FSRI Journal Article Reports on Novel Method for Quantification of MMA Yields from Pyrolysis of PMMA

The peer-reviewed journal article, “Application of sorbent tube sampling coupled with GC-MS for quantification of methyl methacrylate monomer yields from pyrolysis of poly(methyl methacrylate)” was recently published in the Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis. FSRI research scientist Kaylee Morton co-authored this paper to develop and validate a novel analytical method for quantifying methyl methacrylate yields.

This method expanded upon the condensation method to include the use of sorbent tubes. This work pursued three specific goals: To develop a novel, practical, and selective method for detecting MMA, while also enabling non-targeted detection of other species generated during thermal decomposition; To measure the yields of MMA generated during the pyrolysis of PMMA under fire-like conditions, compare these yields to those obtained using other methods that do not replicate fire scenarios, and assess the impact of radiant heat flux and manufacturing processes on monomer generation; To demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in sampling a broader range of pyrolysis by-products. In this study, we investigated the yields of MMA generation along with other pyrolysis by-products during the controlled pyrolysis of PMMA using the Fire Propagation Apparatus.

Unlike prior studies that regulate the temperature of pyrolyzing samples, we subjected PMMA to a steady radiant heat flux, creating highly non-uniform in-depth temperature profiles that mimic realistic fire conditions. These conditions result in cooler and hotter regions within the materials, leading to the formation of various compounds over time. Our work highlights sorbent trapping as a robust alternative for MMA quantification under fire-like conditions.

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