THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF POLYKETONES - VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY STUDIES

Thermal degradation studies of regular alternating polymers of carbon monoxide and olefin have been followed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The I.R spectra of solid samples, performed in inert atmosphere and in high vacuum, were recorded as a function of time at different temperatures. From the I.R. data it is possible to conclude that the reaction process, near the melting point of the polymers, could consist of intra or intermolecular hydrogen transfer yielding an enol and a small quantity of insaturations.The thermal degradation process, at temperatures higher than melting point, involves the scission of the polymer chain and produces fragments with a large number of insaturations.