Fourier transform infrared studies on the thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile

Fourier transform infrared studies of the thermal degradation of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) conducted at 200°C in air and under reduced pressure are presented. The spectra are markedly superior to those published previously. A mechanism consistent with the infrared results obtained under reduced pressure is advanced, and assignments for the infrared bands occuring in the spectrum of both the reduced pressure and air degraded PAN are given.