THE EFFECT OF ANIONS ON THE SOLUTION BEHAVIOR OF POLY(XYLYLENE TETRAHYDROTHIOPHENIUM CHLORIDE) AND ON THE ELIMINATION TO POLY(P-PHENYLENE VINYLENE)

In this study the aqueous solution properties of poly(xylylene tetrahydrothiophenium chloride) are discussed. The solution behaviour of this polymer is related to the type and concentration of added salt. Cloud-point determinations are presented to illustrate the solubility of this polyelectrolyte as a function of the type of anion present. A relation between the solution behaviour of the polymer and the structural entropy change of the anion on water, DELTAS(O)i str, is given. The elimination of the polyelectrolyte film with different counterions was studied by thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry. The products of elimination were found to include tetrahydrothiophene, the conjugated acid of the counterion and water. The elimination temperature needed for complete elimination is dependent on the nature of the counterion.