Polarized infra-red studies of sulphochlorinated polyethylene and products of its hydrolysis

Abstract Band assignments in the polarized i.r. absorption spectra of sulphochlorinated polyethylene are discussed. The absorption band at 720 cm −1 and computer-resolved absorption spectra in the 1000–1600 cm −1 region have been used for conformational analysis of the reaction products. It has been concluded that gauche methylene sequences are preferentially attacked during the heterogeneous sulphochlorination of polyethylene. However, gauche and trans methylene sequences seem to be equally susceptible to chlorination. Analysis of the dichroic character of the i.r. absorption bands of products obtained from preoriented polyethylene films enabled us to elucidate the conformation of SO 2 Cl groups attached to the polymeric chains. The orientation of the parent polyethylene is preserved to a large extent in the sulphochlorinated materials and in the products of their hydrolysis.