Thermal degradation kinetics of poly(methylphenylsiloxane) containing methacryloyl groups

The kinetics of the thermal degradation of polymethylphenylsiloxane containing methacryloyl groups (PMPS-M) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thermal degradation of PMPS-M had two different processes: “unzipping degradation” and “rearrangement degradation”. The corresponding kinetic parameters of the two degradation stages were determined by using Friedman and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa methods, respectively. Coats-Redfern and Phadnis-Deshpande methods were also used to discuss the probable degradation mechanisms of the two different stages. The results showed that the activation energy obtained from Friedman method was in good agreement with the value obtained using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The solid-state decomposition mechanism followed by the first degradation stage of PMPS-M was a decelerated D₄ type (three-dimensional diffusion controlled reaction). However, as for the second degradation stage of PMPS-M, its solid-state decomposition mechanism corresponded to a sigmoidal A₃ type, a nucleation and growth mechanism.