Thermal Degradation of Poly(methyl methacrylate) in the Presence of Tin (IV) Chloride and Tetraphenyltin

Authors

Jayakody A Chandrasiri, Marquette UniversityFollow
Charles Wilkie, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

1994

Publisher

Elsevier

Source Publication

Polymer Degradation and Stability

Source ISSN

0141-3910

Abstract

The thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate) in the presence of tin(IV) chloride and tetraphenyltin has been studied and the mechanistic pathways of the reactions are provided. In the case of SnCl₄, the interaction begins with the coordination of the carbonyl oxygen of the polymer with SnCl₄ followed by the loss of methyl chloride from the complex. When the amount of SnCl₄ is increased, the formation of monomeric methyl methacrylate is drastically reduced whereas the amounts of methacrylic acid and isobutyric acid are increased. Ph₄Sn accelerates the degradation of PMMA via the loss of phenyl radicals to form elemental tin. This interaction is facilitated by homolytic bimolecular substitution reactions. The phenyl radicals will interact with PMMA to produce benzene, methyl methacrylate, and cross-linked char as major degradation products.

Comments

Polymer Degradation and Stability, Vol. 45, No. 1 (1994): 91-96. DOI.

Recommended Citation

Chandrasiri, Jayakody A and Wilkie, Charles, "Thermal Degradation of Poly(methyl methacrylate) in the Presence of Tin (IV) Chloride and Tetraphenyltin" (1994). Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications. 759.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/chem_fac/759