Evaluation of kinetic parameters of dimer acid based metal-containing polyesters using thermogravimetric analysis

Abstract

Polyesters of dimer acid, DA, have been synthesized with zinc(II) and manganese(II) salts of monohydroxyhexylphthalate (HHP). The polyesters are pale-coloured solids insoluble in common organic solvents and were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectral studies. Thermal stability of metal salts of HHP (metal diols) and corresponding polyesters was studied by TGA and DSC measurements. From the resulting data the kinetic parameters for thermal degradation were evaluated following the methods of Freeman and Carroll, Broido, Fuoss et al., and Dave and Chopra.