Characterization of functional polymers by temperature-programmed analytical pyrolysis techniques

Temperature-programmed analytical pyrolysis (TPPy) techniques were developed for the characterization of various functional polymers. In the first study, the TPPy techniques were applied to investigate the thermal-degradation process of a flame-retarded poly (buthylene terephthalate) (FR-PBT) with a synergistic flame-retardant system based on a bromine-containing polycarbonate (Br-PC) and Sb2O3. It was clarified that during the degradation of FR-PBT the evolution of various bromine-containing products, including flame-poisoning SbBr3 formed through the reaction between Br-PC and Sb2O3 were closely related to synergistic flame-retarding mechanisms. In a second study, a natural polysaccharide chitin/chitosan and chitin-based polymer hybrids were characterized by means of analytical pyrolysis techniques. Firstly, in order to determine the composition of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units (i.e. the degree of acetylation) of chitin/chitosan, a new reactive pyrolysis-gas chromatography in the presence of an oxalic acid aqueous solution was developed. The proposed technique was applicable to any kind of chitin/chitosan sample over the whole range of acetylation to which the other individual methods were inapplicable. Secondly, novel chitin-based polymer blends with a chitin derivative and poly (vinyl chloride) were characterized by the TPPy techniques. The evolution peak-top temperatures and the amounts of the characteristic degradation products were correlated to the miscibility of the blends. In addition, the mechanisms for the intermolecular interaction of the blends were also characterized.