Surface properties of carbons obtained from polyvinyl chloride

Abstract

Non-activated carbons have been prepared by the thermal degradation of polyvinylchloride (PVC) in air or nitrogen atmosphere in the temperature range 600-1000C. Carbon dioxide activated carbons from PVC have also been obtained by gasification of non-activated carbon obtained from PVC at 900°C burn-off (4-54%). Thermal degradation in air atmosphere gives high carbon yield because of increased cross-linking at lower temperature and chemisorbed oxygen on the carbon surface at high temperatures. Thermal degradation in air and gasification with carbon dioxidecreate carbon-oxygen surface groups which increase the water adsorption capacity Gasification with carbon dioxide to high burn-off creates new pores and widens already existing pores.