Thermolysis of Artificial Polymer Stones. Part 1. Polyester and Acrylic Stones

Artificial polymer stones with different acrylate contents were studied by thermal desorption mass spectrometry and X-ray microanalysis. At temperatures below 100°C, acrylic and polyester artificial stones had approximately the same heat resistance. When the materials were heated above 100°C, their thermolysis products had different compositions. In addition to methyl methacrylate (MMA, third hazard class), which is a product of decomposition of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), the thermolysis of the polyester stone gave small amounts of toxic compounds of the second hazard class (diethyl phthalate, styrene) that were used in stone production and molding. The energies of the observed processes were estimated.