Polymer discoloration

Among nonmetallic materials, glass, chemical stoneware, enameled steel, acid-proof brick, carbon, graphite, and wood are resistant to iodine and its solutions under suitable conditions, but carbon and graphite may be subject to attack. Polytetrafluoroethylene withstands Hquid iodine and its vapor up to 200°C although it discolors. Cloth fabrics made of Saran, a vinyHdene chloride polymer, have lasted for several years when used in the filtration of iodine recovered from oil-weU brines (64). 

Polyestetification involving insoluble reactants such as isophthaUc acid is normally carried out in two-stage reactions, in which isophthaUc acid reacts first with the glycol to form a cleat melt. The balance of the reactants, including maleic anhydride, is then added to complete the polyester polymer, thus avoiding longer cycle times and some discoloration. 

Cla.riGers. Pool water may occasionally contain metallic impurities such as copper, iron, or manganese which enter the pool with the makeup water or by corrosion of metallic parts in the circulation system. These dissolved metals can discolor the water and cause stains. Chlorine oxidizes soluble Fe and to the highly insoluble Fe(OH)3 and MnO which can be removed by filtration. Water-soluble, high molecular weight polymers can be... 

Applications of ISS to polymer analysis can provide some extremely useful and unique information that cannot be obtained by other means. This makes it extremely complementary to use ISS with other techniques, such as XPS and static SIMS. Some particularly important applications include the analysis of oxidation or degradation of polymers, adhesive failures, delaminations, silicone contamination, discolorations, and contamination by both organic or inorganic materials within the very outer layers of a sample. XPS and static SIMS are extremely comple-mentar when used in these studies, although these contaminants often are undetected by XPS and too complex because of interferences in SIMS. The concentration, and especially the thickness, of these thin surfiice layers has been found to have profound affects on adhesion. Besides problems in adhesion, ISS has proven very useful in studies related to printing operations, which are extremely sensitive to surface chemistry in the very outer layers. 

Thus, the reaction is not specific for initiation of grafting. Another disadvantage is that Fe(II) ions formed—if not carefully removed—cause discoloration of the resulting product. The addition of Fe(II) sulphoxy-late is claimed to increase the rate of grafting, the yield of grafted polymer, and the conversion of monomer to polymer [60,61]. The mechanism of grafting can be represented as follows ... 

Due to the high reaction temperatures required during the last stages of these syntheses, side reactions cannot be avoided. Acetaldehyde, carboxyl endgroups, and vinyl endgroups are formed during PET and PEN synthesis. The formation of 2,2/-oxydiethylene moieties in polymer chains by etherification of hydroxyl endgroups is also a well-known side reaction of EG polyester syntheses.264 These reactions should be carefully controlled since they can exert an important influence on polymer properties such as Ts, mechanical properties, hydrolytic stability, and discoloration. 

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