Carbon dioxide, thermal with aromatic compounds

It has been established [1, 44, 45] that the degradation of PPO based on phenol, o-cresol and 2,6-dimethylphenol depends on both the structure of the repeat unit and the molecular mass. The thermal degradation of these PPO under vacuum proceeds with the release of both gaseous (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, methyl chloride and ethane) and non-volatile products are aromatic compounds of the type Ar-O-Ar. It has been suggested that the thermal degradation of PPO may proceed with the formation of benzyl radicals, namely ... 

The evolved gas analyses were conducted on FTIR and mass spectroscopy (MS) devices, coupled to the TG apparatus. The main volatile compounds released below 350 °C were carbon dioxide and water vapours, which increased during the whole thermal decomposition process. Alcohol traces and aromatic structured compounds were also identified. Volatile structures containing carbonyl groups were found in the gaseous mixture at temperature values above 350 °C. Ammonia evolvement was also found in the gaseous mixture. The MS spectra were in good correlation with the findings from the FTIR spectra data. 

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