Radiation degradation of poly(butene-1 sulfone) and poly(1,4-phenylene ether sulfone) in the soft x-ray region

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Abstract
The mass spectral fragment ion yields and total electron yields have been measured for the polymers poly(butene-1 sulfone) [PBS] and poly(1,4-phenylene ether sulfone) [PPES] around the sulfur 2p (LII) edge, using synchrotron radiation from the Canadian Synchrotron Radiation Facility [CSRF]. Ionization of the sulfur 2p orbitals of PBS produced a sharp decrease in the neutral yields of SO2 and 1-butene. Decreases in the SO2 and 1-butene neutral yield shapes “mirrored” the structure present in the total electron yield. Ionization of the sulfur 2p orbital does not appear to produce any enhanced cleavage of the C–S bonds in the polymer backbone. A G(olefin)/G(SO2) ratio of 0.96 ± 0.15 was determined at 21 °C from mass spectrometry, consistent with a depropagation reaction mechanism. PPES showed a much different behavior than PBS about the sulfur 2p edge, with no detectable yield of SO2.