Products of non-flaming combustion of poly(vinyl chloride)

Abstract

A relatively large laboratory-scale sample of a commercial type of poly(vinyl chloride) usually used for window blinds, was decomposed by non-flaming combustion under carefully controlled conditions (823, 1023 and 1223 K, in air, in a mixture of air and nitrogen and in nitrogen) which simulated the main stages of development of a fire. Three fractions of the decomposition products, residue, gases and organic volatile-condensable products, and the influence of the decomposition conditions on their yield, were studied. The residue yield decreased with increase in the decomposition temperature and in oxygen content of the atmosphere. The organic volatile-condensable products consisted mainly of aromatic compounds many of which contained fused rings. Benzene was the dominant product in this fraction. Three chlorine-containing compounds and some aliphatics were also identified. Many of the organic volatile-condensable products seem to be the result of secondary reactions. HCI released was the largest component of the gaseous mixture.