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The thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and blends of PVC with polystyrene has been studied using thermogravimetric analysis coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The degradation of PVC commences at weak links by an ionic pathway, but there is evidence to suggest the presence of a radical pathway at high temperatures. While there is some chemical interaction between PVC and polystyrene, the principal mode of stabilization is a physical process.
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Yao et al. (2001) studied this question.
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