Thermal Degradation Kinetics of ZnO/polyester Nanocomposites

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 12; no. 8; p. 1753
• Main Authors: Franco-Urquiza, E. A., May-Crespo, J. F., Escalante Velázquez, C. A., Pérez Mora, R., González García, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 05.08.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Acids; Chemical vapor deposition; Energy; Ethanol; Glass transition temperature; Heat; Heat treatment; Kinetics; Mechanical properties; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Polyester resins; Polymers; Reaction kinetics; Sol-gel processes; Solution blending; Spectrum analysis; Thermal degradation; thermal degradation kinetics; Thermal energy; Thermogravimetric analysis; unsaturated polyester resin; Wurtzite; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; ZnO
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym12081753

ZnO particles were synthetized by the sol–gel method and subsequent heat treatment of 400, 500 and 600 °C was applied. The nano ZnO particles were incorporated to the unsaturated polyester resin by solution blending at 0.05 wt % concentration. X-ray diffraction detected the formation of a wurtzite-like structure. Viscoelastic behavior of neat polyester and nanocomposites revealed the nano ZnO particles does not promote better mechanical properties because of a weak interaction and the glass transition temperature of the polyester was favored by the presence of a higher quantity of nano-size ZnO particles. Thermogravimetric analysis at 5, 10 and 20 °C/min allowed determining the degradation kinetic parameters based on the Friedman and Kissinger models for neat polyester and nanocomposites. Heating rates promoted an increase in the temperature degradation and the addition of ZnO particles promoted a catalyst effect that reduce the amount of thermal energy needed to start the thermal degradation.