A study of the thermal degradation products of styrene-butadiene type rubber by pyrolysis/GC/MS

Pyrolysis coupled with GC/MS was used to study thermal degradation products of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). Introduction of samples, using the pyrolysis carrier gas through the split injection port, followed by sub-ambient focusing of pyrolysis products gave reproducible chromatograms. The styrene content of styrene-butadiene copolymer was determined by plotting the GC areas of styrene and butadiene dimer (4-vinlycyclohexene) vs. the percent bound styrene measured by refractive index and infrared spectroscopy. The accuracy and ease of use of the technique in determining the styrene content of styrene-butadiene copolymer is also compared to that of the refractive index and infrared spectroscopy methods. Finally, the effects of carbon black and other fillers on the thermal degradation products of the styrene-butadiene copolymer are also discussed.