Thermal degradation of poly(o-toluidine) (POT) reduced [base form (POT-EB)] and
oxidized form [i.e. doped with salicylidine-aniline (SA) and/or salicylidine-o-aminophenol
(SAP)] was investigated experimentally and computationally. The results of thermal (TGA)
and differential thermal (DTG) gravimetric analysis suggest a higher thermal stability for the
oxidized (SA or SAP-doped POT) than that for the respective reduced (POT-EB) chain. Nonisothermal
degradation of the reduced POT matrix reveals hydrophilic nature about two times
stronger than that for the oxidized form (SA and/or SAP-doped POT) under the same
conditions. Molecular mechanics (MM
/) calculations substantiate these observations. FTIR
spectroscopic study of the calcined POT-EB showed that the quinoid (Q) ring (iminostructure)
is thermally at least twice more stable than for that the benzenoid (B) rings (aminostructure)
in the repeating unit of the polymer chain. Isothermal degradation curves [fraction
decomposed (a) vs. degradation time (t in min)] of the polymers under investigation revealed
that they are characteristically declaratory in shape.