Analysis of model polyurethane thermolysis products by direct mass spectrometer sampling

Abstract

AbstractThe results obtained using a molecular beam direct sampling mass spectrometer system to determine the thermolysis products and investigate the decomposition kinetics of two model linear polyurethanes are reported. The polyurethanes are shown to degrade in this system strictly to the polycondensation reactants. These results conflict with previous research which indicated that the model polymers degraded by different mechanisms and yielded different degradation products. Kinetic analysis of results obtained from rapid thermolysis of the polymer in the ion source chamber of the pyrolysis mass spectrometer using the activation energy and frequency factor parameters deduced from thermogravimetric analysis of the same polymers reproduced the experimental data on decomposition as a function of time and temperature quite satisfactorily.