Non-isothermal kinetics of degradation of ultra-high molecular mass polyethene composite materials

Abstract

In the present work, the Coats-Redfern method was used to determine the kinetic parameters and the possible reaction mechanism of the thermal degradation of ultra-high molecular mass polyethene and its composites with fiber monocrystals in static air at three different heating rates − 6, 10 and 16 K min−1. The analysis of the results obtained showed that the thermal degradation process of pure ultra-high molecular mass polyethene corresponded to a diffusion controlled reaction (three-dimentional diffusion, mechanism D3), while its composites with fiber monocrystals degraded by two concurrent mechanisms (diffusion one D3 and A1,F1 mechanism). The fiber monocrystals used increased the thermal stability of the composite materials obtained. The values of the activation energy, frequency factor, the changes of entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs energy for the active complex of the composites were calculated.