Evidence of formation of radicals in the polystyrene thermodegradation

Abstract

Abstract The formation of radicals in the thermal degradation of polystyrene (PS) in tubes sealed under vacuum has been evidenced by using ESR spectroscopy. The radicals were found to be stable for weeks at room temperature. The rate coefficients of the formation of radicals have been evaluated in the temperature range 350–420°C. The reaction kinetically followed has been related to the initiation step of the multi‐step degradation process of PS. The activation energy of this reaction resulted 185 kJ/mol.