Structural Analysis of Deuterated and Nondeuterated Frictional Polymers Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy

Frictional polymers were produced on oscillating mated Pd/Pd pairs exposed to static air-hydrocarbon vapor environments involving benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, pentane, D6-benzene, and D8-toluene. The structures of these polymer deposits have been examined using the techniques of Fourier transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). All polymers were found to be extensively oxygenated, as evidenced by the presence of aryl and unsaturated ester linkages. The structural similarities exhibited by these materials are suggestive of a common mode of formation at the metal surfaces. Discussions of the techniques and results of this study are presented.