FORMATION OF TOXIC GASES DURING PYROLYSIS OF POLYACRYLONITRILE AND NYLONS

The FT-IR technique was found to be suitable for the rapid determinati on of toxic species. Formation of toxic gases such as HCN, CO and NH3 during temperature programmed (10 degrees C/min) pyrolysis of polyacry lonitrile and nylon 6.6, 6.12 and 12 was determined in a fixed bed rea ctor. For polyacrylonitrile (PAN), HCN and NH, were the major toxic pr oducts, whereas NH3 only was the major toxic product for nylons. Durin g pyrolysis of PAN, the yield of HCN was more than 100 times greater t han that during pyrolysis of nylons. CO was formed during pyrolysis of all the tested polymers.