Identification of acrylate copolymers using pyrolysis and gas chromatography

A combination of pyrolysis and gas chromatography were used to investigate thermal degradation products formed from acrylic copolymers containing alkyl acrylate and methacrylate. The method provided an analytical tool for characterizing the chemical composition and structure of the degradation products. Thermal degradation of the synthesized copolymers was analyzed using isothermal (250 °C) pyrolysis–gas chromatography. The degradation process, and the nature and amount of pyrolysis products, provides relevant information about the thermal degradation of acrylic copolymers and the mechanism of pyrolysis. During pyrolysis, the formation of corresponding olefins, alcohols, acrylates and methacrylate was observed.