Photooxidation of cured fluorinated polymers .2. Comparison with non-fluorinated polyethers

This series of articles report on the photooxidation of cured fluorinated polyethers. In the first paper we have studied the oxidation of two fluorinated polyethers and a mechanism has been given. Because unexpected results were obtained, the study has been extended to non-fluorinated polyethers. The oxidation photoproducts are identified by infrared analysis of the polymeric matrix coupled to chemical derivatization, and a mechanism accounting for the formation of these products is proposed. On the basis of the obtained results, general mechanisms for the primary oxidation of polyethers can be given, and the role played by fluorine atoms on the orientation of the reactions can be elucidated. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Limited