Effect of Pd Nanoparticle on the Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Nylon 6/Pd Nanocomposite Prepared by a Dry Process

Abstract

Palladium (Pd) nanoparticles were incorporated into a nylon 6 film via a dry process which consisted of simultaneous vaporization, penetration and reduction processes of palladium (II) bis (acetylacetonate, Pd (acac)2) at 180°C for various exposure time. The even dispersion of the generated Pd nanoparticles were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the Pd loading weight of about 15~43 wt% was measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In order to study the catalytic effect of Pd nanoparticles on the thermal degradation kinetics of nylon 6, TGA data at various heating rates were introduced to Flynn & Wall equation. The thermal degradation activation energy for neat nylon 6 was ca. 162~178 kJ/mol over the thermal degradation fraction of 0.05~0.40 while that of the nylon 6/Pd (26.5 wt%) nanocomposite was ca. 110~169 kJ/mol over the same fraction range. It meant the Pd nanoparticles were acted as a catalyst on the depolymerization of amide group in nylon 6. It was also found that the activation energy decreased slightly with the increasing Pd loading weight.