THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION AND CARBONIZATION MECHANISM OF POLY-PARA-PHENYLENEOXADIAZOLE

Thermal decomposition and carbonization mechanism of poly‐para‐phenylene‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole were investigated using FT‐IR, thermogravimetry, gas‐analysis, XPS, 13C‐CP/MASFT‐NMR, and elemental analysis. At temperatures above 500°C, the decomposition reaction proceeds preferentially on the oxadiazole ring, eliminating p‐aminocyanobenzene and p‐dicyanobenzene. Formation of carbodiimide compounds and their coupling followed in residual compounds, whose products are important intermediates leading to a planar and polyconjugated nitrogen‐containing (e.g., graphite‐like) carbon precursor. Copyright © 1990 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.