Microwave Assisted Synthesis, Characterization and Kinetics of Thermal Degradation Studies of a Terpolymer Resin

Abstract

Abstract A terpolymer 4- Hydroxybenzoic acid – Urea - Formaldehyde (4-HBAUF) has been synthesized by microwave irradiation technique with 1:1:2 molar ratios of the monomers respectively, in 2 M HCl medium at 300 W for 15 minutes. The characterization and the structural elucidation of the terpolymer have been performed by elemental analysis, electronic, FTIR and 1H NMR spectral studies. The surface morphological study of the polymer has been carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal degradation behaviour and decomposition kinetics of the 4-HBAUF terpolymer has been investigated by TGA, DTA and DTG analyses. The kinetic parameters viz. activation energy (Ea), entropy change (ΔS), free energy change (ΔF) and order of decomposition reaction (n) of the terpolymer have been estimated with the aid of Freeman-Carroll and Sharp-Wentworth mathematical models. The half decomposition temperature of the terpolymer is found to be 733 °C and seems to be thermally quite stable.