Pyrolysis gas chromatographic analysis of polyacrylonitrile

Pyrolysis gas chromatographic analysis of polyacrylonitrile under an inert atmosphere was made in a temperature region of 500-900 degreesC. it was con firmed that the main degradation products are various kinds of lower nitril es that include CH2CHCN CH3CN, and HCN. In addition, lower hydrocarbons suc h as CH4 and C2H4, which are related to secondary decomposition, were detec ted. Various thermo-analytical data were obtained, including those concerni ng the relation between retention time and the polarity of nitriles, and th e dependence of the products' limiting yield on pyrolysis temperature. Base d on the above results, specific applications of the pyrolysis gas chromato graphic analysis and the utility of this procedure in the study of thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile are described. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.