Self-Diagnostic Polymers-Inline Detection of Thermal Degradation of Unsaturated Poly(ester imide)s.

Monitoring polymer degradation is an important quest, particularly relevant for industry. Although many indirect methodologies for assessing polymer degradation exist, only few are applicable for an inline-monitoring via optic detection-systems. An inline-monitoring system is introduced for the thermal degradation of crosslinked poly(ester imide)s (PEIs) by embedding trifluoroacetyl functionalized stilbene molecules, serving as chemosensors to track the release of generated alcoholic byproducts.