Some aspects of the thermal stability of poly(alkyl itaconic acid esters)

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Abstract
The thermal stability of members of several series of polyitaconates has been assessed using thermogravimetric and thermal volatilisation techniques. From these data general degradation patterns have been established. The poly (di‐n‐alkyl itaconates) are stable up to 570K before chain breakdown occurs. The poly(mono‐n‐alkyl itaconates) are less stable and undergo a dehydration/de‐esterification reaction at 430K which results in the formation of anhydride structures. This reaction can be suppressed by the formation of the salts. In the copolymers, salt formation also leads to increased stability but the range of copolymers studied was too restricted to draw general conclusions about their thermal behaviour.