MEDIUM EFFECTS ON THE THERMAL DEHYDROCHLORINATION OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE)

In the light of polaron theory it is shown that, in the thermal dehydr ochlorination (TDHC) of poly(vinylchloride) (PVC), the medium can, by its interaction with the double bonds existing in PVC, control the rat e, the mechanisms of TDHC, the cis/trans configuration and the length distribution of conjugated polyene sequences developed in the polymer backbone. It also shows that the propagation of elimination of HCl in the TDHC of PVC can occur via allylic, as well as normal chlorine atom s.