AbstractPoly(ethylene sulfide) which is a strong, stiff, solvent‐resistant thermoplastic resin, upon preparation and molding, undergoes rapid degradation upon aging in air with significant loss in impact strength and other physical properties. This is attributed to surface crazing and shrinking caused by molecular breakdown and crystallization.Infrared spectral studies show the rapid formation of sulfoxide, sulfone, and carbonyl moities in the polymer and mass spectral analysis shows the principal gaseous degradation products to be acetaldehyde, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and water.The addition of antioxidants, blending with other resins, and polymer modification give only minor improvement in oxidation resistance. This poor oxidation resistance has prohibited the development of poly(ethylene sulfide) as a commercial thermoplasti
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