Department of Chemistry, The University of The West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies
Abstract:
A survey of the influence of the polymer structure on the melting/softening point and degradation temperature has been presented. Almost all aliphatic polyamides and polyacrylamides undergo degradation at lower temperatures. Introduction of cycloaliphatic rings and carbon-carbon unsaturated bonds raises the melting point as well as the degradation temperature of the polymers. Substitution of the hydrogen atom on the nitrogen with alkyl groups lowers the melting point as well as the decomposition temperature.