A Kinetic analysis of thermal degradation of polymers using a dynamic method

Abstract

A new method of kinetic analysis using a dynamic model which accounts for the thermal degradation of the polymer at any time, is proposed. The method was applied to predict the thermal degradation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) by a conventional nonisothermal thermogravimetric technique at several heating rates between 10 and 50 degrees C/min. In addition, the various analytical methods reported in the literature were used in comparison with the kinetic analysis results obtained from the dynamic method. It was found that the dynamic method gave a reliable value of kinetic parameters, and the apparent activation energy and overall reaction order of HDPE were larger than those of LDPE and LLDPE. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.