Molecular weight and pyrolysis products distribution of polymers. I-Polystyrene

Eight samples of polystyrene with various known molecular masses and polydispersity (Mw/Mn) close to 1 have been pyrolyzed at 600 and 750°C. The pyrolysis products were identified by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and their relative percentages calculated. We calculate the parameters of the logarithmic correlations between the molecular mass of the pyrolyzed samples and the relative amount of the pyrolysis products. Styrene production increases with the molecular mass of the polymer, when the other products decrease. Benzene formation becomes significant with an increase in degradation temperature. The results for each pyrolysis product are reported.