The thermal degradation kinetics of isomeric poly(dipropyl, itaconates)

Abstract

Non-isothermal thermogravimetry was performed in a dynamic nitrogen atmosphere, on a series of poly(di-n-propyl itaconates) (PDnPI) and poly(di-iso-propyl itaconates) (PDiPI) which had been prepared in the presence of various amounts of the chain transfer agent n-dodecyl mercaptan (DDM). Differential thermogravimetry (DTG) showed that both polymers degraded in two stages. The DTG curve of PDnP1 had a large first peak followed by a smaller shoulder, whereas the DTG curve of PDiPI was composed of two peaks of almost equal heights. The addition of DDM during the polymerisations in both cases resulted in a similar decrease in the relative area of the first peak.