Studies on thermal degradation of aromatic polyesters by pyrolysis-gas chromatography.

Thermal degradation of aromatic polyesters (see text for formula) (m = 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) was studied by pyrolysis/gas chromatography using a Curie-point pyrolyzer directly attached to a gas chromatograph with a thermally stable polar separation column (Thermon-1000) to cover a wide range of the degradation products. The characteristic peaks appearing on the pyrograms were identified using a mass spectrometer with a chemical ionization source which was also directly attached to the gas chromatograph. On the basis of the observed pyrograms, the common degradation mechanisms of the aromatic polyesters were discussed.