Maleic copolymers with pendant disinfectant and or odorant molecules II. Thermal and thermo-oxidative behaviour

New esters of alternating maleic anhydride/styrene or vinyl acetate copolymers with tyhmol, eugenol, phenylethyl alcohol and citronellol, known as bioactive molecules with disinfectant and/or odorant properties, have been synthesized and characterized by conductometry and infrared spectroscopy. Their thermo-oxidative and thermal behaviour under dynamic conditions of heating were studied by means of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. One or two thermogravimetric steps of weight loss are characteristic for the studied compounds in the 20-450 degrees C temperature range, that are endothermic processes in DSC curves. The characteristic temperatures, weight losses, overall kinetic parameters and reaction heats were evaluated and information about physical and/or chemical processes involved, have been obtained. On the basis of these results two distinct pathways for the release of active moieties have been proposed in respect to the parent copolymer. IR spectra recorded after heating at various temperatures support the proposed mechanisms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.