Pyrolysis characteristic of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) studied by thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

The introduction of biodegradable plastics is promoted as a solution to plastic pollution. However, it is not a panacea as the degradation rates of biodegradable plastics are very slow. Therefore, biodegradable plastics should be recycled as well as fossil-based plastics. Herein the present work investigated the pyrolysis characteristics of PBAT by TGA and Py-GC/MS. The results revealed that the temperature strongly influences the selectivity of pyrolyzates from PBAT. High temperatures inhibit the transesterification, but promote the cis-elimination. 800 °C is a remarkable pyrolysis temperature at which the peak areas of oligomers are significantly reduced and low boiling point compounds are increased.