Influence of Maleic Anhydride Grafted onto Polyethylene on Pyrolysis Behaviors

Polyethylene (PE) and maleic anhydride-grafted PE (PE-g-MAH) were pyrolyzed, and their pyrolysis products were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to investigate the influence of MAH grafted onto PE on pyrolysis behaviors. Major pyrolysis products of PE and PE-g-MAH were n-alkanes, 1-alkenes, alpha,omega-alkadienes, and aromatic compounds. 1-Alkenes were more formed than n-alkanes, alpha,omega-alkadienes, and aromatic compounds. Butadiene was more produced from PE than PE-g-MAH, whereas toluene and ethyl benzene were more generated from PE-g-MAH than PE. Difference in the pyrolysis behaviors between PE and PE-g-MAH were explained by initial decomposition of MAH moiety.