Pohotodegradation Behavior of Dienepolymer in the Presence of a Radical Initiator

Abstract

Photodegradation of a diene polymer in solution was investigated in the presence of a radical initiator. The use of azobisisobutylonitryl (AIBN) as a radical initiator led to efficient fission of bonds, under ultraviolet irradiation by a mercury lamp. The degradation reaction led to lower solution viscosity. The decrease in viscosity, along with FT-IR and ¹H NMR of the irradiated polymer, indicates that the degradation of the diene polymer proceeds thought the auto-oxidation mechanism.