Degradation of Unsaturated Polymers by Olefin Metathesis

Degradation of unsaturated polymers by olefin metathesis (“MUP degradation”) followed by identification of the low-molecular-weight degradation products with a combination of gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) is a valuable method for structure investigation. The examples discussed here are the investigation of butadiene copolymers containing silicon in the comonomer and of products obtained by subsequent modification or crosslinking of poly(butadiene-alt-propene). MUP degradation is also useful for the determination of fillers in a crosslinked polymer matrix. The degradation to soluble polymers is sufficient here. The example under consideration is determination of carbon black in vulcanizates of natural rubber.