DETERIORATION OF ORGANIC POLYMERS 



1091 



The principal effect of the reactions described above is to introduce the 

 hydroperoxide group into the polymer at various points. It is in the decom- 

 position of these peroxides that chain scission occurs. Studies of the decom- 

 position of the tertiary peroxides produced by oxidation of various dialkyl 



OCTAOECANE IN OXYGEN AT I05°C (2.4 g SAMPLE) 



130 



20 40 60 80 100 120 



TIME IN HOURS 



Fig. 11— Octadecane in oxygen at 105° C. (2.4 g sample) 



140 



phenyl methanes have shown that the product is invariably an alkyl phenyl 

 ketone in which the alkyl group is the shorter of the two originally present.'^ 



CHs 



Thus: <^^J>— C— C2H, 

 OOH 



5 goes to 



+ -OH 



