Interaction of poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) with the surface of highly dispersed silica and character of its thermal destruction were investigated by means of ad-desorption measurement, vibration and electron spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis with programmed heating. The correlation between the character of polymer keeping on the surface of silicon dioxide and its thermal decomposition was established. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.