Kinetics of thermal degradation of copolymers of methylvinylidene cyanide with substituted styrenes. Thermogravimetric and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy studies

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 171 - 179
• Main Authors: Raihane, M., Montheard, J.P., Boinon, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1994
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/0141-3910(94)90049-3

The thermal degradation behaviour of poly(methylvinylidene cyanide cosubstituted styrenes) has been studied by means of dynamic and isothermal thermogravimetry, in the range 324–395°C, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. The main volatile products are the substituted styrenes and the methylvinylidene cyanide. This indicates that the thermal degradation is mainly a depolymerisation reaction. A kinetic model including initiation by random chain scission, depropagation and termination leads to good agreement between experimental and theoretical curves. Kinetic parameters have been calculated. The activation energies are found to be more than those of polysubstituted styrenes.