CONDENSED PHASE AROMATIZATION DURING DEGRADATION OF POLYVINYL-CHLORIDE)

Previous studies have shown that aromatic compounds constitute the major fraction of volatile organic products from the degradation of PVC, and benzene is the most abundant of all the volatile organic compounds. However, the presence of aromatic structures in the condensed phase has not been reported. The formation of aromatic material in the degrading polymer is of interest because it adds insight to the degradation pathways that lead not only to volatile aromatics but also to char and even smoke. This paper presents proton NMR results for partially degraded PVC which show that aromatization accompanies dehydrochlorination in the condensed phase. Subsequent fragmentation leads to loss of volatile aromatics.