synopsisNuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, and ultraviolet spectroscopy were used to elucidate the structure of oxidized polystyrene. To identify the nuclear magnetic resonance peaks of the degraded polystyrene, deuterated polystyrenes were synthesized and degraded. The primary structure present in the degraded polystyrene was found to be an aromatic carbonyl group. It was shown that this structure was formed regardless of the presence of ultraviolet light and was also present when polystyrene was degraded in carbon tetrachloride solution. When polystyrene waa degraded in carbon tetrachloride solution, stable polymeric peroxides were formed in a concentration of 4 peroxide groups for every lo00 styrene units.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.