PYROLYSIS OF GLASS-HARDENED POLYAMIDES USED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Thermogravimetry and on-line flash pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass s pectrometry were used for studying thermal decomposition processes in filled polyamides deriving from used cars. The thermal decomposition o f each polymer begins at about 350 degrees C and proceeds with a weigh t loss of 100% for the non-glass fibres, under nitrogen atmosphere. Th e analysis of the pyrolyzate compounds shows that from polyamide 66, t he most abundant product volatile at degradation temperatures is cyclo pentanone, while from polyamide 6 there is a considerable yield of eps ilon-caprolactam.