SynopsisThe thermal degradation of polystyrene ( P S ) in various kinds of solvents was studied in the temperature range from 300 to 450°C. The conversion of PS to low molecular weight products was dependent on the hydrogen donating ability of the solvents used Solvents with greater donating ability resulted in less conversion of PS. A different degradation behavior was evident when phenols or other kind of solvents were used. These reaction properties are explained with a proposed degradation mechanism that includes hydrogen transfer steps from solvents to intermediate PS radicals and from PS to the solvent radicals.
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