Abstract
The volatile combustion products of four polyphenylene oxide samples have been qualitatively and quantitatively determined under various conditions of temperature and air supply. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are the major volatile products, accounting for about 40% of the plastic. Methane, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene each account for 10 to 40 mg/gm of plastic. Benzene, straight-chain saturated and unsaturated aliphatics through hexane, methanol, and acetaldehyde are present in small amounts ranging from 4 to 0.1 mg/gm. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are the only products whose concentrations vary significantly with combustion conditions. A considerable quantity (∼500 mg/gm) of higher-boiling products condenses in the combustion tube. Some of these products are identified.