Photo-oxidation mechanisms of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide).

A re-examination of the photo-oxidation mechanism of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) at both long and short irradiation wavelengths under accelerated conditions is reported. The formation rate of poly-2,6-dimethylphenoxy (PDMP) radicals, have been observed by esr spectroscopy, while benzylic-type radicals have been detected by spin trapping experiments using nitrosodurene under UV irradiation conditions. The changes of FTIR spectra obtained under accelerated photo-oxidative conditions show the formation of primary oxidation products such as aromatic aldehydes and quinones. The direct formation of radical cations and superoxide anions by a photo-induced electron-transfer reaction is suggested under our conditions. In addition, some results on the of photo-oxidation PPO/PS blends as a function of polystyrene tacticity are also reported. In the case of syndiotactic polystyrene the blend photostability shows some differences in comparison with the blend containing atactic polystyrene. This effect has been ascribed to the absence of excimers in syndiotactic polystyrene which are not revealed by fluorescence measurements. Finally, the chemical modification of PPO with bromine gave a bromomethylated PPO with different amounts of CH₂ Br groups, which has been used for further substitution reactions with alkoxy sodium salts of 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) and 4-hydroxy-1,2,2,6,6-pentamethylpiperidine (PMPP). The accelerated photo-oxidation of a modified copolymer PPO-PMPP containing a 60% PMPP moieties as side groups and its blends with pure PPO has been followed by FTIR and esr spectroscopies. Some comparisons with a commercially available hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) and a modified copolymer PPO-PMPP are also reported under the same photo-oxidative conditions.