Synthesis and properties of brominated polystyrenes

A number of brominated polystyrenes (PS) were synthesized, with different contents of bromine in the macromolecules. The molecular-mass characteristics of these polymers were investigated; it could be shown that bromination of PS is accompanied by polymer degradation. Thermal degradation of brominated PS in air and in inert medium was studied. These polymers are decomposed in two stages, the rate of which is in a different way affected by air oxygen. It was found that during thermal degradation of brominated PS, dehydrobromination, random chain rupture and depolymerization take place. The contribution of each of these reactions depend on the content of bromine in the polymers and on the occurrence of crosslinked structures.