Reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) with ethylenediamine hydrotrisulphide and properties of the products

The chemical structure and the properties of the products of the reaction of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with ethylenediamine hydrotrisulphide were investigated. PVC derivatives containing a polysulphide crosslinkage and a hydropolysulphide pendant (PSC-PVC) were obtained by the reaction of PVC with ethylenediamine hydrotrisulphide in ethylenediamine (EN) as well as in EN-diglyme, and EN-benzene at 20–50°C for 0.5–5h. The chemical structure of PSC-PVC was determined from crosslinking density before and after iodine oxidation and elemental analysis. Scission of polysulphide crosslinkage in PSC-PVC by some thiols was carried out in tetrahydrofuran-triethylamine solution at 30°C for 1–4h as well as in a hot roller mill at 125–180°C for 2–8 min. The former product was photocrosslinked under ultra-violet irradiation in air and the latter showed the properties of a plastic, a leather, and a rubber with increasing weight of dioctyl phthalate.