Thermal degradation of cellulose diacetate

Abstract Thermal degrdation of cellulose diacetate has been investigated in the range 250–300° for dynamic and isothermal conditions of heating in an inert gas current and under vacuum. The kinetic parameters have been determined for thermal degradation of cellulose diacetate, and the parameters of dehydration and deacetylation have been found. The value of E a for the overall process was found to be 251 kJ/mole; for dehydration and deacetylation values of E a were 135 kJ/mole (250–280°) and 207 kJ/mole (280–300°) respectively. The gas composition of the degradation products was determined by gas liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry methods were used to determine the composition of the liquid fraction of the degradation products. On the basis of these data the mechanism of thermal degradation of cellulose diacetate has been deduced.