Spectroscopic and thermal degradation studies of novel hybrid polymer based on sodium polyphosphate - polystyrene

Abstract

We have synthesized by the hydrophobic effect a new hybrid polymer material (HP) composed of segments of different solubility: polystyrene (hydrophobic) and sodium metaphosphate (hydrophilic). The structure and thermal stability of these hybrid materials were investigated and compared to the starting materials using X-ray diffraction (XRD), ³¹P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

The structure of the hybrid material consists of a mixture of phosphate compounds resulting from the hydrolysis of NaPO₃. The phosphate groups have probably formed hydrogen bonds with aromatic CH. Furthermore, the delocalization of the electrons in the aromatic group generates negative poles that can interact with the positively charged Na ion, forming a cation-Ï€ interaction.

The thermal characterization of these hybrids shows a clear improvement of the thermal property. TGA results show that phosphates increase HP residues yields at 600°C. Thus, Raman spectroscopy results provide evidence for the formation of residues having an aromatic phosphocarbon and an aromatic graphitic structure.