PVC modification with new functional groups. Influence of hydrogen bonds on reactivity, stiffness and specific volume

The chemical modification of PVC with new bifunctional thiol compounds is reported. Aliphatic as well as aromatic reactives were tested and the influence of protic and non-protic functionalities on reactivity was studied. The chemical structure of the polymers was analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy. ructural changes in the modified samples were monitored by means of density and Tg determinations, which are a measure of interchain spacing and chain stiffness. While protic functionalities lead to polymers with strongly enhanced Tg values indicating a considerable stiffening of the system due to physical interaction by hydrogen bonds, the softening-point temperature of PVC modified with non-protic substituents does not change very much. terchain spacing of the polymer is not significantly altered by the presence of mobile hydrogen in the polymer.