Thermal decomposition products of polyacrylonitrile

The decomposition products of a polyacrylonitrile yarn thermally decomposed at temperatures of 400°, 600°, and 800°C, under a flow of either air or nitrogen, have been analyzed by GC and GCMS. Hydrogen cyanide and 16 other nitriles were identified and quantified. Decomposition products contained a series of aliphatic nitriles of various chain lengths, and HCN was the predominant toxic product.