A thermogravimetric study of the effect of palladium catalyst residue on the degradation of ethylene carbon monoxide alternating copolymer

The thermal degradation of ethylene-carbon monoxide alternating copolymer was studied as a function of the palladium catalyst residue concentration under inert atmosphere and in the presence of oxygen. The copolymer thermal behavior was analyzed by thermogravimetry and accelerated aging monitored through W-Visible and EPR spectroscopies. The traces of palladium do not influence the temperature at which the copolymer starts to degrade in the presence of oxygen, but the combustion temperature increases linearly with the palladium content. A different behavior was observed under inert atmosphere. The above rate increased up to 300 degrees C first, then decreased as the palladium concentration increased. At higher temperatures the loss of weight was independent of the Pd concentration, while the crosslinking increased with the content of catalyst residue. An interpretation of these phenomena is discussed on the basis of different Pd species. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.