Combustion of poly(1-methyl hexamethylene) and poly(1-methyl tetramethylene) and identification of the main decomposition products

The Bayer-ICI-Shell apparatus has been used to carry out combustion experiments on poly(1-methyl hexamethylene) (PH) and poly(1-methyl tetramethylene) (PT) using different air flow rates at various combustion temperatures. The products were adsorbed on charcoal followed by benzyl-alcohol desorption. They were separated and identified using gas chromatography.The non-oxidized products were identified as short chain, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons while the main oxidized products are short chain ketones and alcohols. The intensities of the chromatographic peaks of the separated products depend upon the temperatures and air flow rates in the combustion apparatus.