| Abstract: | Pyrolysis gas chromatographic analysis of polyacrylonitrile under an inert atmosphere was made in a temperature region of 500–900°C. It was confirmed that the main degradation products are various kinds of lower nitriles that include CH2CHCN, CH3CN, and HCN. In addition, lower hydrocarbons such as CH4 and C2H4, which are related to secondary decomposition, were detected. Various thermo‐analytical data were obtained, including those concerning the relation between retention time and the polarity of nitriles, and the dependence of the products' limiting yield on pyrolysis temperature. Based on the above results, specific applications of the pyrolysis gas chromatographic analysis and the utility of this procedure in the study of thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile are described. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 473–478, 2001 |
