Abstract: | A brief investigation has been carried out into the nature and quantity of the toxic gases evolved during the thermal decomposition of polyurethane, urea-formaldehyde, nylon and acrylonitrile in air and in nitrogen. The weight fractions of the polymers evolved as hydrogen cyanide are given, together with the lowest temperatures at which hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia and nitrogen oxides are evolved. Apparent activation energies for the evolution of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide have been determined. A brief discussion of the experimental data is given. |