Thermo-oxidative decomposition of polyvinyl chloride

Pyrolysis and combustion of polyvinyl chloride resin have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis. Nine different runs with about 5 mg sample mass have been carried out in three different atmospheres (He; He:O-2 9: 1; and He:O-2 4: 1) and heating rates (5, 10 and 20 degrees C/ min). Adequate kinetic simplified models have been proposed and all heating rates have been simultaneously correlated with the same set of kinetic constants, obtaining good results. The pyrolysis model consists of one first reaction producing gases and solid residue followed by two parallel reactions of previous solid, whereas the combustion model adds a third parallel reaction with oxygen and three new combustion reactions to burn char formed in the three previous reactions. Different considerations have been taken into account during the optimization to achieve the best results. Parameters obtained have been discussed and also compared with others from literature. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.