Solid polymers thermally degradable to flowable compositions

A synthetic polymeric solid contains heat-sensitive groups which cleave at a temperature substantially lower than that at which thermal degradation would occur in their absence. Cleavage is effected essentially in the absence of materials reactive with the resulting molecular fragments, which are of such kind, size and number as to constitute a liquid composition. Such polymers have a variety of uses, such as binder components of salvageable propellant charges, heat strippable adhesives, degradable potting compositions, etc. The degradation products are useful in their own right as adhesives, plasticizers, fillers, etc. The invention conserves resources and avoids pollution.