Provided is a method of inhibiting the formation of coke in an ethylene
dichloride to vinyl chloride monomer pyrolysis cracker. The coke
formation, which occurs during an ethylene dichloride pyrolysis reaction,
is inhibited by contacting a heat-transfer surface of the cracker and a
boron compound. The amount of coke generated when a coke
formation-inhibiting material is used is 50% or less of that when a coke
formation-inhibiting material is not used. In this case, however, the
ethylene chloride conversion and the selectivity to a vinyl chloride
monomer during the pyrolysis reaction are not affected. Accordingly, the
efficiency of the pyrolysis cracker can be maximized.