ABSTRACT
This chapter describes many of the important reactions of polymers. The term "degradation" includes any change, decrease, in polymer property because of the impact of environmental factors, namely, light, heat, mechanical, and chemicals. Seven polymers represent the majority of the synthetic polymers. These are the various polyethylenes (PE), polypropylene (PP), nylons, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), PS, poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and polycarbonate (PC). Each of these has their own particular mode of degradation. The moderating conditions between reactions of small molecules and polymers involve contact between the polymer segments and the reactants. Reactions with polyenes are similar to reactions of alkenes. The chapter focuses on reactions with polyolefines and polyenes, reactions of aromatic and aliphatic pendant groups. Polymers with aromatic pendant groups, such as polystyrene (PS), undergo all the characteristic reactions of benzene, including alkylation, halogenation, nitration, and sulfonation. Polymer degradation typically occurs via random chain scission, depolymerization, or both, resulting in loss of chain length and properties associated with polymer length.
