Thermal decomposition of model compounds of polyvinyl chloride. I. Gaseous thermal decomposition of model compounds having secondary and tertiary chlorine

The thermal stabilities of branched model compounds of poly(vinyl chloride) are studied in the gaseous state. The compounds containing tertiary chlorine, i.e., 2‐methyl‐2‐chloropropane and 3‐ethyl‐3‐chloropentane, are compared with those containing a secondary chlorine, i.e., 2‐chloropropane and 2,4‐dichloropentane. The results of gaseous thermal decomposition show that the tendency of C‐Cl cleavage depends on the electronegativity of carbon bonded chloride. The decomposition temperature TD can be used for the evaluation of the thermal stabilities of various model compounds.