A Mass-Thermal Method for Studying Ablative Polymer Degradation Mechanisms

摘要

An analytical method is described that provides detailed identification of the chemical species evolved during thermal decomposition of ablative polymers. The method combines the two techniques of differential thermal analysis and mass spectral analysis to record simultaneously the thermal behavior of the polymers and the mass spectra of their decomposition products. The method and its application to polymer systems is demonstrated by its application to polystyrene decomposition. The results obtained with ablative polymers are directly useable in an ablation or observable analysis. (Author)