Studies of volatile compounds emitted during thermo-oxidative degradation of poly(butylene terephthalate)

Abstract

The volatile compounds emitted from poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) during thermo-oxidative degradation at different temperatures were studied. The experiments were carried out in a flow tubular furnace at the temperatures of 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700°C in an air atmosphere. The weight losses of PBT at different temperatures were evaluated. The composition and concentrations of emitted volatile compounds were determined using gas chromatography with different detectors (FID, TCD, MSD) and colorimetric method. The studies showed that the main volatile substances evolved from PBT are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadiene. Among the other degradation products, with significantly lower concentrations, tetrahydofuran, 4-vinylcyclohexene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, acrolein, acetaldehyde and formaldehyde were determined. The temperature effect on the composition and the amounts of the emitted compounds was considered.

Keywords:

• poly(butylene terephthalate)
• PBT
• polyesters
• thermo-oxidative degradation
• emission of volatiles