Photo-oxidation of styrene-butadiene copolymer: Importance of a copolymer-oxygen collision complex

Abstract

The photo-oxidation of styrene-butadiene copolymer (SBR) with light at λ>300 nm was investigated. The formation of hydroperoxide compounds accompanied by crosslinking of the copolymer was observed in the first stage of the process. The participation of a copolymer-oxygen complex as well as carbonyl and hydroperoxide compounds in initiation of SBR photo-oxidation was taken into consideration. The studies of the inhibiting effect of various additives on SBR photo-oxidation as well as energy transfer processes allowed the conclusion that the singlet oxygen is the most important reactive species in the system investigated.