THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF CHLORINATED POLYSTYRENES

p-Chlorostyrene was polymerized using a radical initiator, alpha,alpha '-azobis(isobutyronitrile). Polystyrene was chlorinated in the liquid phase using an SbCl3 catalyst combined with 10-trifluoroacetylphenothi azine. The chlorinated polymers were characterized spectroscopically a nd molecular weight measurements were carried out. The polymers were p yrolysed at 600-degrees-C, the pyrolysis products identified by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and their relative percentages calculated. The differences in the products distributions gave helpfu l indications about the structure and the mechanism of degradation of the chlorinated polymers.