Thermal characterization of HCN polymers by TG–MS, TG, DTA and DSC methods

Abstract This paper presents a thermogravimetry (TG) study of hydrogen cyanide polymers, synthesized from the reaction of equimolar aqueous solutions of sodium cyanide and ammonium chloride. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were also used to evaluate the thermal behaviour of these black polymers, which play an important role in prebiotic chemistry. A coupled TG–mass spectrometer (MS) system allowed us to analyze the principal volatile thermal decomposition and fragmentation products of the isolated HCN polymers under dynamic conditions and an inert atmosphere. After dehydration, a multi-step decomposition occurred in this particular polymeric system, due to the release of ammonia, hydrogen cyanide (depolymerization reaction), isocyanic acid (or cyanic acid) and formamide; these two latter species allow us identify bond connectivities. Finally, data collected from TG experiments in an oxidative atmosphere showed significant differences at higher temperatures, above 400 °C. According to these results, the different techniques of thermal analysis here applied have demonstrated to be an adequate methodology for the study and characterization of this complex macromolecular system, whose structure remains controversial even today.