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FTIR Study of the Thermal Degradation of Poly(vinyl Alcohol)

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Abstract

The degradation of poly(vinyl alcohol) was investigated using TG analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the effect of atmosphere on the process of degradation. In the spectra, four vibrational modes were identified that characterised the major steps of the degradation process. These were the O-H, C-H, C=O and C=C stretching modes. The mechanism observed for degradation in an inert atmosphere was in accordance with the accepted mechanism of elimination followed by pyrolisation. Evidence of conjugated polyenes, however, was not observed. For the air atmosphere, oxidation in both steps of the degradation process was observed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Materials and Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia

    P. S. Thomas & J.-P. Guerbois

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology, Imperial College, London, SW7 2BY, UK

    G. F. Russell & B. J. Briscoe

Authors
  1. P. S. Thomas
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  2. J.-P. Guerbois
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  3. G. F. Russell
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  4. B. J. Briscoe
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Thomas, P.S., Guerbois, JP., Russell, G.F. et al. FTIR Study of the Thermal Degradation of Poly(vinyl Alcohol). Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry 64, 501–508 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011578514047

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011578514047

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