Poly(dialkoxyethyl itaconates) .2. The thermal degradation of some poly(dialkoxyethyl itaconates)

The oxidative and non-oxidative degradation of poly(di-methoxy-), poly(di-ethoxy-), poly(di-iso-propoxy-) and poly(di-n-butoxyethyl itaconate) were investigated by thermogravimetry. Characteristic degradation temperatures and apparent activation energies of degradation were determined for the non-oxidative degradation of all the investigated polymers. It was not possible to determine these characteristics in the presence of oxygen as the degradation was accompanied by a secondary exothermic reaction. Based on examination of the monomers, it is supposed that the exothermic reaction is a repolymerisation of the monomers released during the earlier stages of polymer degradation.