Direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry studies on thermal degradation characteristics of poly(phenylene vinylene) with well-defined PSt side chains

Thermal degradation characteristics of a new macromonomer polystyrene with central 4,4'-dicarbaldehyde terphenyl moieties and poly(phenylene vinylene) with well-defined polystyrene (PPV/PSt) as lateral substituents were investigated via direct pyrolysis mass spectrometry. A slight increase in thermal stability of PSt was detected for (PPV/PSt) and attributed to higher thermal stability of PPV backbone. It was almost impossible to differentiate products due to the decomposition of PPV backbone from those produced by degradation of PSt.