Interaction of Polyorganosilsesquioxanes with Sulfur

The interaction of elemental sulfur with polyvinyl- and polyphenylsilsesquioxanes was accomplished to give the products which partially lost solubility in organic solvents. The composition and structure of the isolated compounds were investigated. In the IR spectra, the absorption bands associated with the double bond disappeared, while new bands indicating the addition of sulfur emerged. A slight shift of the first reflex on the XRD pattern with a noticeable change in the volume of the coherent scattering region also indicated the interaction of sulfur with siloxanes. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the polyvinylsilsesquioxane product showed the presence of a significant exo-effect on the DTA curve, which is associated with the oxidation of the sulfur-containing moiety.