Mc. Gupta et Sg. Viswanath, ROLE OF METAL-OXIDES IN THE THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF POLY(VINYL CHLORIDE), Industrial & engineering chemistry research, 37(7), 1998, pp. 2707-2712
Thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) has been studied in the pr
esence of metal oxides by a thermogravimetric method. It follows a two
-step mechanism. In the first step chlorine free radical is formed as
in the case of pure PVC, and in the second step chlorine free radical
replaces oxygen from metal oxide to form metal chloride and oxygen fre
e radical. Subsequently, the oxygen free radical abstracts hydrogen fr
om PVC. Formation of metal chloride is the rate-controlling step. The
metal chlorides formed during the thermal degradation either volatiliz
e or decompose simultaneously to lower metallic chlorides depending on
the boiling point or the volatilization temperature.