The action of concentrated sulphuric acid on polyethylene and polypropylene: Part 1—Evolution of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide

The evolution of sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide during the reaction between concentrated sulphuric acid and low density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene and atactic polypropylene at 100–125°C has been followed. Atactic polypropylene is the most susceptible, and isotactic the least susceptible, to acid attack, and this order of reactivity can be accounted for by both structural and morphological effects. It appears that acid attack is partially autocatalytic in nature.