Gas chromatography. A new tool for the analysis of plastics

Abstract Identification was described by analysis of pyrolysis products, a method which is complicated by the variety of degradation products, but the decomposition products are fairly specific. The pyrolysis technique was used for a quantitative analysis of acrylate and maleate esters in polymers via a hydriodic acid hydrolysis technique. Because of the low volatility of the higher alkyl halides higher esters were saponified at elevated temperatures and the resultant alcohols were chromatographed. Then vinyl acetate was analyzed on the basis of the quantitative yield of acetic acid from polyvinyl acid pyrolysis.