The binder-burnout kinetics of poly(vinyl) butyral from BaTiO3 multilayer ceramic capacitors with platinum metal electrodes were analyzed by combining thermogravimetric analysis with infrared spectroscopy. The rate of weight loss vr;as accelerated when both BaTiO3 and platinum metal were present, and the presence of both metal and ceramic enhanced the production of CO2. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor were determined by analysis of the weight-loss data with a first-order kinetics model. Then, the decomposition kinetics were incorporated into a coupled heat- and mass-transport model to predict pressure increases as a function of the heating cycle, The heating cycles determined in this manner then were used to evaluate the yield of capacitors 1.3-3.8 cm long and 0.3-1.3 cm high. The optimum yield was realized at an aspect ratio (height:length) of 1:3.