Thermal degradation of poly(phenylene sulfide) and perfluoropoly(phenylene sulfide)

The thermal and oxidative degradation of poly(phenylene sulfide) and perfluoropoly(phenylene sulfide) have been studied by a weight-loss method. The products of breakdown in vacuum have also been analyzed. The poly(phenylene sulfide) is more thermally stable in inert and oxidizing atmospheres than the fully fluorinated analog. The breakdown products can be accounted for by chain scission and transfer reactions. The formation of a large proportion of residue implies that crosslinking reactions play an important part in the degradation.