| Abstract: | Decomposition products of polymers have been determined by many investigators, but the results are often conflicting because of difficulties in analyzing a large number of products. A comprehensive analysis of the volatile thermal decomposition products of high-density polyethylene has been made with the latest techniques in gas chromatography. The formation of products is explained on the basis of free-radical mechanism. The predominant process in the formation of volatiles appears to be intramolecular transfer of radicals, in which isomerization by a coiling mechanism plays an important role in determining the relative quantities of each product. |
