The thermal and mechanical properties of the copolymers were determined by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), and Shore D hardness.  The thioester-containing polymers based on MMA exhibit lower thermal stability than those with ST. The polythioesters are stable up to 250 °C.  The depolymerization products were re-reacted in a thiol-ene reaction with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate by thermal initiation.  The thiol-ene procedure enabled reprocessing of starting polymers and obtaining new materials characterized by distinctly different thermal, mechanical, and swelling properties. 
THERM