Degradation Behaviors of Polystyrene and Polycarbonate by Vibration Ball Mill

Abstract

Mechanical degradation of polystyrene (PS) has been studied kinetically by a vibration ball mill under atmospheric pressure at room temperature. The degree of degradation was determined by measuring the number-average degree of polymerization at various stages of degradation. The extent of degradation was represented by the rate constant of degradation (k_S) and the final average chain length (P_∞). The degradation of the mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and PS was also carried out under the same condition. k_S of PS in the presence of PC was increased with the amount of PC, while k_S of PC was decreased with the amount of PS.
These results are used to discuss the mechanical degradation of polymer in a vibration ball mill.