Abstract
Thermal degradation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was studied by using inorganic salt of aluminum triiodide (AlI3). The composites of PMMA were prepared with AlI3 by changing the concentration of the AlI3 additive from 2% to 10% (w/w). The PMMA composites with AlI3 were characterized by TGA, DTG, SEM, FTIR, HBT, and Py-GC-MS techniques. The FTIR peaks of PMMA composite at 1316, 786, and 693 cm−1 justify the chemical association between PMMA and AlI3. TGA study shows that the stability of PMMA is enhanced by the addition of the AlI3 additive. SEM analysis represented that there is a relationship between polymer and additive when they are mixed at the molecular level. The horizontal burning test (HBT) also confirmed that the AlI3 additive produced the flame retarding properties in PMMA polymer. The burning rate of composite with 10% of AlI3 additive decreases five times as much as compared to pure PMMA polymer. Py-GC-MS analysis deduced that PMMA composite produced less toxic and environment-friendly substances (CO2) by the influence of AlI3 additive as compared to neat PMMA.
Highlights
Waste plastics are usually disposed of in landfill sites or utilized energetically, for instance, by incineration [1]
The thermal degradation pattern of the different polymeric systems has been studied extensively due to their importance in everyday life [2,3] The thermal study of polymers gives important information about stability, stiffness, toughness, and types of residues produced [4,5]
The investigation of the effect of metallic halides on PMMA characteristics and the thermal degradation behavior was carried out in this study
Summary
Waste plastics are usually disposed of in landfill sites or utilized energetically, for instance, by incineration [1]. Various analysis methods are used to detect the degradation behavior of polymers [12] It resulted that the polymer showed a remarkably different thermal pattern when heated in combination with a small amount of additive [13]. Both components of the system were shown a certain physical and chemical association. The thermal degradation products of neat polymers were different as compared to the polymer-additive system produced [14]. The investigation of the effect of metallic halides on PMMA characteristics and the thermal degradation behavior was carried out in this study. Only a few studies had comprehensively addressed the thermal degradation behavior of PMMA polymers.
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