Acute degradation of surface-bound unsaturated polyolefins in common solvents under ambient conditions.

ABSTRACT: We describe the detachment of covalently grafted polybutadiene and polynorbornene chains, which were prepared by surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SiROMP), from Si/SiO2 substrates upon brief exposure to common solvents in air. Degradation and disappearance of grafted polybutadiene films after successive rinses with dichloromethane were monitored by ellipsometry. Changes in surface topography were analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The rapid auto-oxidation of allylic carbon-hydrogen bonds renders these thin films extremely susceptible to degradation under ambient conditions. Polymers in the tethered state suffer more acute degradation (on the time scale of seconds) compared to those dissolved in solution (not detectable after days). To prevent degradation, unsatura

SUBMITTER: Lerum MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2756074 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature