Some alkyl N-aryldithiocarbamates were prepared and their thermal behaviour was studied using TG, DTG and GC/MS. Thermogravimetric data were used for calculations of the apparent kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition. Decomposition proceeds as a reaction with order n = 1, except that of butyl N-phenyldithiocarbamate which follows order n = 0. The apparent activation energies of the processes were found to be above 100 kJ mol(-1) for almost all compounds studied. The thermally induced decomposition of the compounds occurs as a single-stage process, except that of ethyl N-tolyldithiocarbamate where three steps could be distinguished. The products of the decompositions were indentified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and used for predictions of the mechanisms involved.