Degradation of poly(Butyl acrylate) and poly(2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate) model compounds under extreme environmental conditions

Francesca Benneto, Philip J. Barker, Thomas P. Davis, Alexander H Soeriyadi, Christopher Barner-Kowollik

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16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The degradation of low-MW (Mn = 500 g . mol-1) model compounds of pBA and pHEMA were studied under conditions corresponding to the worst-case temperatures and irradiation intensities likely to be experienced by a surface coating exposed to the harsh Australian environment. Vinyl-terminated polymers were compared to their saturated analogues; the terminal vinyl bond was found to be a source of instability which rendered the polymers more susceptible to degradation. The cyclic degradation mechanism derived from degradation of pMMA in our previous publication is also relevant to pBA and pHEMA. In addition, pBA and pHEMA are susceptible to other degradation and crosslinking reactions; crosslinking is particularly rapid in pHEMA exposed to UV radiation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2034-2052
Number of pages19
JournalMacromolecular Chemistry and Physics
Volume211
Issue number18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Sept 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chains
  • Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
  • Polymer degradation
  • Radiation

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