An investigation about the thermal degradation of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is performed. It is verified that the thermal degradation of ASA produces not only salicylic acid (SA) and acetic acid (AA) as products but also an ASA polymer, which is transparent and solid. And also verified that the temperature in which the polymer is obtained influences its physical consistence (solid or semi-solid). Furthermore, the ASA polymer is very stable from a thermic point of view, as verified by TG and DSC analysis. X-ray diffraction patterns obtained for the ASA polymer show that it exhibits a low crystallinity. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.