Kinetic analysis of the non-isothermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethylene oxide) blends

Abstract

Kinetic analysis of the non-isothermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PVC/PEO) blends was performed using isoconversional Friedman method in combination with the multivariate nonlinear regression method. The dependencies of E on α have been evaluated at whole conversion range, and it was concluded that E depends on α for all investigated samples, which indicated the complex degradation mechanism. The kinetic analysis indicated four-stage degradation mechanism, except for PVC sample which showed five-stage degradation mechanism. As the PEO content increased in the investigated samples, the probable mechanism changed from the reaction of nth order with autocatalysis (Cn) to the Avrami–Erofeev reaction type (An).