IR laser-induced decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate): Control of products by irradiation conditions

IR laser-induced, ablative decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate) was examined under different irradiation conditions and its volatile and solid products were characterized by mass spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV spectroscopy and EDX-measurements. The laser decomposition of the copolymer, compared with that of poly(vinyl acetate) and poly(vinyl chloride), is revealed to be a more efficient process leading to solid films with the proportion of Cl- and CH3C(O)O-groups controlled by irradiation conditions.