Pyrolysis and thermo-oxidative degradation of polycyclopentadiene

Thermal degradation of polycyclopentadiene polymer (PCPD) was investigated by pyrolysis gas chromatography (PGC) in the temperature range of 500-950 d egrees C. The nature and composition of the pyrolyzates at various temperat ures are presented, and the mechanism of degradation is explained. The acti vation energy of decomposition (E-a) was obtained from an Arrhenius-type pl ot using the concentration of the product ethylene (C-2) at different pyrol ysis temperatures and the value was found to be 138 kJ mol(-1). Thermo-oxid ative degradation of PCPD in the presence of ammonium perchlorate (AP), the most commonly used oxidizer for polymeric fuel binders, was studied at a p yrolysis temperature of 700 degrees C. The compositions of the products wit h varying amounts of AP are given, and the exothermicity of oxidative decom position reactions is evaluated. The energetics of the degradation processe s are compared with those of polybutadiene type polymers. (C) 2000 John Wil ey & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 635-641, 2000.