The electrochemical reductive degradation of polyvinyl chloride

Abstract The reactions of solid PVC and PVC dissolved in DMF, occurring both by direct reduction and also through an electron transfer agent have been studied. At comparatively low negative potentials, PVC undergoes reductive electrochemical degradation, leading to dehalogenation of the macromolecules, radical decay and the formation of a polymer of 3-dimensional structure on the cathode surface. A mechanism has been proposed for these processes.