INFLUENCE OF SUBSTITUENTS IN CHLOROPOLYSTYRENES AND STYRENE COPOLYMERS ON THEIR THERMAL-STABILITY

The thermal properties of chloropolystyrenes and styrene copolymers were investigated by using TG and DTA methods. The chloropolystyrenes were obtained by chlorination of polystyrene (PS) with sulfuryl chloride in two ways: a) radical-initiation (products PR1-PR4, containing 15.7-48 wt. % of chlorine), b) ionic catalysis (product PI, containing 64 wt. % of chlorine). Thus, their structures were different. Three styrene copolymers were investigated too: poly(costyrene-phenyl maleimide) - PF, poly(co-styrene-o-chlorophenylmaleimide)-PC1, poly(co-styrene-p-hydroxyphenylmaleimide)-POH. The thermal stability of the polymers was higher when chlorine atoms were present on the aromatic ring.