Thermal degradation kinetics of poly(propylene carbonate) obtained from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and propylene oxide

Abstract

AbstractThe kinetics of the thermal degradation of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) were investigated with different kinetic methods with data from thermogravimetric analysis under dynamic conditions. The apparent activation energies obtained with different integral methods (Ozawa–Flynn–Wall and Coats–Redfern) were consistent with the values obtained with the Kinssinger method (99.93 kJ/mol). The solid‐state decomposition process was a sigmoidal A3 type in terms of the Coats–Redfern and Phadnis–Deshpande results. The influence of the heating rate on the thermal decomposition temperature was also studied. The derivative thermogravimetry curves of PPC confirmed only one weight‐loss step. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 947–953, 2003