A kinetic study of the thermal degradation of poly(dihexyl itaconate)

Abstract

The kinetics of thermal degradation of poly(dihexyl itaconate) (PDHI), in the absence of oxygen, were determined on the basis of non-isothermal and isothermal TG data. Two PDHI samples of different weight average molar masses were used in the study. Two distinct DTG peaks were registered in the investigated range of 30°-600° C. Uniform values of the thermal degradation activation energy, Ea, (118 kJ mol) were obtained from non-isothermal data using the Flynn-Wall method for both samples up to mass losses of 60-70 %. The Ea's at higher mass losses averaged about 150 kJ mol. Corresponding Ea values were obtained from isothermal TG data analysed by classical kinetics. There seemed to be no influence of sample molar mass on the value of Ea.