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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Flash pyrolysis of polyethyleneglycol by T-Jump/FTIR spectroscopy to temperatures of the surface during combustion reveals that volatile products arise from approximately equal amounts of C-O and C-C homolysis. Nine volatile products are discussed. The average number of repeating units in the volatile oligomers is 2.5. A shift in product distribution occurs at 420–480°C resulting from a change in the polymer structure. Below 420°C, di- and mono-ether oligomers and diethyleneglycol dominate. Above 480°C, the mono-ethers and ethyleneglycol dominate. The Arrhenius constants for decomposition reflect this difference: Ea=8.8 kcal mol−1, In (A, s−1) =2.0 at 370–420°C and Ea=19 kcal mol−1, In (A, s−1)=10 at 480–550°C.