Polysulfones for conservation in the ethylene polymer industry. Progress report No. 7, October 1979-March 1980

Ethylene-SO/sub 2/ polysulfone copolymers were prepared by /sup 60/Co gamma radiation, as well as by electron-beam radiation and by thermocatalysis, as a means of incorporating a polluting waste product material such as SO/sub 2/ into ethylene polymers for the purpose of conserving ethylene feedstock. Ethylene-SO/sub 2/ copolymer was pressure molded into discs which had a high degree of hardness as well as partial transparency, but were also very brittle. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) indicated peak decomposition at 350/sup 0/C. Long term heat aging tests showed stability to 175/sup 0/C and initiation of decomposition at 200/sup 0/C in air after 900 h. Decomposition became severe as the temperature was increased to 300/sup 0/C. The activation energies for decomposition were 57.3 and 56.8 kcal/mole for liquid-phase and gas-phase formed copolymers, respectively. The ethylene-SO/sub 2/ copolymer was modified by the incorporation of monomeric styrene, 2-vinyl pyridine, 4-vinyl pyridine, and N-vinyl pyrrolidine. A summary of characterization studies by INCO which includes solubility, infra-red and x-ray analysis of the ethylene-SO/sub 2/ copolymer and with additives are presented

Polysulfones for conservation in the ethylene polymer industry. Progress report No. 8, April-June 1980. [. gamma. radiation, catalysis]

Ethylene SO/sub 2/ polysulfone copolymers were prepared by both cobalt-60 gamma irradiation and chemical catalysis as a means of incorporating a polluting waste material such as SO/sub 2/ into useful ethylene polymers and also for the purpose of conserving ethylene feedstock. In addition, ethylene-SO/sub 2/ copolymer was prepared with monomeric acrylates and vinyl acetate to produce a modified material. Discs of modified and unmodified ethylene-SO/sub 2/ copolymer were pressure molded

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