TG–MS analysis of the thermo-oxidative decomposition of polychloroprene

Abstract: Thermal degradation experiments have been performed by thermogravimetry in order to study the kinetics of the decomposition of polychloroprene at different heating rates (5, 10 and 20°C/min) and different atmospheres (N2, N2:O2 9:1 and N2:O2 4:1). Some of the experiments were partially conducted in isothermal conditions in order to cover a wider range of operating conditions. Two different reaction models were proposed, one for pyrolysis and another one for combustion, which proved to simulate appropriately the experimental results at all the heating rates simultaneously. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]