Fourier transform infrared studies on the thermal degradation of polyvinylimidazoles. Part II

Oxidative thermal degradation of polyvinylimidazoles on copper have been studied. Degraded products include olefinic, saturated, and α,β‐unsaturated ketones, α,β‐unsaturated and β‐iminonitriles, CN conjugated and NHCC components. At 150°C, the rate of degradation of the polymers is relatively slow. For PVI(1), approximately 50% of the polymer remained nonoxidized after 64 h of heating, whereas 80% of PVI(4) remained nonoxidized after 47 h of heat treatment. At 210°C, the degradation mechanisms involved three stages, with the duration of each stage quite different between the two polymers. No degradation of polyvinylimidazoles is observed in vacuum initially at 400°C. Prolonged heat treatment leads to evaporation of residual water, further complex formation, and, finally, evaporation of the polymer films.