In order to determine the burnt-out condition of polyvinylbutyral as a binder in the fuel cell, thermal gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry are used to analyse decomposed products during the thermal decomposition process in the matrix-green sheet and electrolyte-green sheet. Most of thermal degradation takes place under 400 degrees C, but degradation-resistant structures still remain up to 700 degrees C. Adding water Vapour to the atmosphere gas could be one method to promote thermal degradation. Butyraldehyde and butene peaks among the released gases show characteristic decomposition behaviour. Thus, the butyraldehyde and butene peaks can be used as an index to check the extent of decomposition in the thermal decomposition process.