Thermal degradation of polymethacrylic ester containing bisphenol‐S

Abstract

AbstractThermal degradation of polymethacrylic ester containing bisphenol‐S, poly(BPS‐M), was investigated under nitrogen and air atmosphere at various heating rates. Ozawa's method was used to calculate the kinetic parameters, activation energy, preexponential factor and reaction order. Thermodegradation of the polymer occurs in one or two stages in nitrogen and air, respectively. The temperature at the start of intense degradation (Tstart) and the temperature corresponding to a 50% mass loss (T50%) were found to be 300 and 402°C, respectively, at a heating rate of 10°C min−1 in nitrogen. Larger sample masses have a larger temperature interval (ΔT) and a greater mass loss (ΔW). The kinetic order of degradation is unity both in nitrogen and air. The direct pyrolysis mass spectrum of the polymer shows one degradation peak. The most important degradation process under inert atmosphere is the loss of carbon dioxide, phenol and sulphur dioxide. A possible mechanism for thermal decomposition of poly(BPS‐M) is proposed based on the product analyses.