THE THERMOOXIDATIVE DEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE

The kinetics of thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of polystyren e (PS) alone and in the presence of 4,4'-isopropylidene bis(2,6-dibrom ophenol) were investigated. It was shown that the retardant affects th e thermo-oxidative degradation of PS. Thermal volatilisation analysis (TVA), subambient TVA, FT-IR spectroscopy and GC-MS techniques were us ed for the separation and characterisation of the various degradation products. The main products of thermo-oxidative degradation were styre ne, carbon dioxide, water, benzaldehyde, alpha-methylstyrene, phenol, phenylacetaldehyde and acetophenone.