Pyrolysis experiments of polyvinylchloride (PVC) were performed using a wire-mesh reactor. Non-condensing gases were collected at a heating rate 1—1000 K·s-1 with temperatures from 300℃ to 800℃ and a holding time from 0 to 120 s. EPA-method 26A was employed to determinate the concentrations of both Cl2 and HCl. The results showed that the release of HCl and Cl2 increased continually with increase of temperature and reaction time. Lower heating rate could make the total gas yield increase but do not change the chlorine distribution. Cl2 seemed as an accompanied product during HCl release

which indicated that a bunch of free Cl radicals were involved in PVC thermal degradation. The results confirmed that the pyrolysis process of PVC plastic followed the free radical chain mechanism. Lastly

it was further indicated

by the analysis of PVC pyrolysis tar

that the products obtained at the first stage of PVC pyrolysis were straight-chain polyenes rather than ring structure compounds

i.e. occurring of cyclization reactions seemed impossible at the phase.