Studies on the cure reaction and thermal properties of NADIC/phthalic anhydride modified unsaturated (epoxy) polyesters

In pseudo bi-component separated-stage model (PBSM), the effect of the TG value at separation points on the kinetic parameters is studied by residual and theoretical analysis. Simultaneously, a new method to determine the point that is the end of 1st reaction or the initial of 2nd reaction is developed. The investigations have improved the calculation procedure of PBSM. We performed thermogravimetry (TG) analysis on oil tea wood with two-step consecutive model and parallel model. Comparison between the results of the two models and improved PBSM shows well agreements. The influence of different separation points on kinetic parameters is presented.     

Characterization and kinetic study of sunflower oil and biodiesel

In this study, the physico-chemistry characterization and kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of sunflower oil and its biodiesel were carried out. Sunflower biodiesel was synthesized by the methanol route and basic homogeneous catalysis. The physicochemical characterization of the sunflower oil and biodiesel were performed according to standards set out in the ANP resolution, and both are in accordance to the specifications. The chromatographic analysis was obtained by GC-FID. The yield of conversion of 97.4 wt% of sunflower oil in methyl esters confirms the efficiency of the conversion of the fatty acids into esters. The thermal analysis was performed on a thermobalance, using heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 °C min⁻¹. In these three rates, we observed a single well-defined step of mass loss that describes the volatilization and decomposition of the sunflower oil and the biodiesel. The kinetic study was performed using equations of approximation and integration methods such as Coats–Redfern, Van Krevelen, and Horowitz–Metzger. The kinetic parameters reaction order (n) and apparent activation energy (E _a), obtained by applying these method were correlated.     

Thermal behaviour of cephalexin in different mixtures

The thermoanalytical curves (TA), i.e. TG, DTG and DTA for pure cephalexin and its mixtures with talc, magnesium stearate, starch and microcrystalline cellulose, respectively, were drawn up in air and nitrogen at a heating rate of 10 °C min⁻¹. The thermal degradation was discussed on the basis of EGA data obtained for a heating rate of 20 °C min⁻¹. Until 250 °C, the TA curves are similar for all mixtures, up this some peculiarities depending on the additive appears. These certify that between the pure cephalosporin and the excipients do not exists any interaction until 250 °C. A kinetic analysis was performed using the TG/DTG data in air for the first step of cephalexin decomposition at four heating rates: 5, 7, 10 and 12 °C min⁻¹. The data processing strategy was based on a differential method (Friedman), an integral method (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa) and a nonparametric kinetic method (NPK). This last one allowed an intrinsic separation of the temperature, respective conversion dependence on the reaction rate and less speculative discussions on the kinetic model. All there methods had furnished very near values of the activation energy, this being an argument for a single thermooxidative degradation at the beginning (192–200 °C).     

Study on thermal decomposition of calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene

Thermal decomposition kinetics of calix[6]arene (C6) and calix[8]arene (C8) were studied by Thermogravimetry analysis (TG) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). TG was done under static air atmosphere with dynamic heating rates of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 K min⁻¹. Model-free methods such as Friedman and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factors (ln A). Model-fitting method such as linear regression was used for the evaluation of optimum kinetic triplets. The kinetic parameters obtained are comparable with both the model-free and model-fitting methods. Within the tested models, the thermal decomposition of C6 and C8 are best described by a three dimensional Jander’s type diffusion. The antioxidant efficiency of C6 and C8 was tested for the decomposition of polypropylene (PP).     

Thermooxidative decomposition of oil shales

The thermooxidative decomposition of four oil shale samples from Estonia, Jordan, Israel and Morocco and one sample of Estonian oil shale derivative, semicoke, was studied with the aim to determine the characteristics of the process and the differences of it related to the origin of oil shale. The experiments with a Setaram Setsys 1750 thermoanalyzer coupled to a Nicolet 380 FTIR Spectrometer were carried out under non-isothermal conditions up to 1000 °C at the heating rates of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 °C min⁻¹ in an oxidizing atmosphere. A model-free kinetic analysis approach based on the differential isoconversional method of Friedman was used to calculate the kinetic parameters. The results of TG–DTA–FTIR analyses and the variation of activation energy E along the reaction progress α indicated the complex character of thermooxidative decomposition of oil shale and semicoke, being at that the most complicated for Estonian and Jordanian oil shale characterized by higher content of organic matter as compared to the other samples studied.     

Heating rate effect on the thermal behavior of ammonium nitrate and its blends with limestone and dolomite

The effect of heating rate on the thermal behavior of ammonium nitrate (AN) and on the kinetic parameters of decomposition of AN and its blends with limestone and dolomite was studied on the basis of commercial fertilizer-grade AN and several Estonian limestone and dolomite samples. Experiments were carried out under dynamic heating conditions up to 900 °C at heating rates of 2, 5, 10 and 20 °C min⁻¹ in a stream of dry air using Setaram Labsys 2000 equipment. For calculation of kinetic parameters, the TG data were processed by differential isoconversional method of Friedman. The variation of the value of activation energy E along the reaction progress α showed a complex character of decomposition of AN—interaction of AN with limestone and dolomite additives with the formation of nitrates as well as decomposition of these nitrates at higher temperatures.     

Thermal kinetic studies on the decompositions of cefuroxime lysine in different atmospheres and heating rates

The thermal decomposition of a new antibiotic agent, cefuroxime lysine, was investigated by thermogravimetry analysis/derivative thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods in anoxic and oxidative environments. The influence of heating rates (including 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C/min) on the thermal behavior of cefuroxime lysine was revealed. By the methods of Kissinger and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, the thermal kinetic parameters of activation energy and pre-exponential factor for the exothermic processes under non-isothermal conditions were calculated using the analysis of corresponding DSC curves.     

Thermal decomposition kinetics of potassium iodate

The thermal decomposition of potassium iodate (KIO₃) has been studied by both non-isothermal and isothermal thermogravimetry (TG). The non-isothermal simultaneous TG–differential thermal analysis (DTA) of the thermal decomposition of KIO₃ was carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at different heating rates. The isothermal decomposition of KIO₃ was studied using TG at different temperatures in the range 790–805 K in nitrogen atmosphere. The theoretical and experimental mass loss data are in good agreement for the thermal decomposition of KIO₃. The non-isothermal decomposition of KIO₃ was subjected to kinetic analyses by model-free approach, which is based on the isoconversional principle. The isothermal decomposition of KIO₃ was subjected to both conventional (model fitting) and model-free (isoconversional) methods. It has been observed that the activation energy values obtained from all these methods agree well. Isothermal model fitting analysis shows that the thermal decomposition kinetics of KIO₃ can be best described by the contracting cube equation.     

Non-isothermal decomposition kinetics of NiFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using egg white solution route

The thermal decomposition kinetics of nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) precursor prepared using egg white solution route in dynamical air atmosphere was studied by means of TG with different heating rates. The activation energy (E _α) values of one reaction process were estimated using the methods of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), which were found to be consistent. The dependent activation energies on extent of conversions of the decomposition reaction indicate “multi-step” processes. XRD, SEM and FTIR showed that the synthesized NiFe₂O₄ precursor after calcination at 773 K has a pure spinel phase, having particle sizes of ~54 ± 29 nm.     

Kinetic study of wood chips decomposition by TGA

Pyrolysis of a wood chips mixture and main wood compounds such as hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin was investigated by thermogravimetry. The investigation was carried out in inert nitrogen atmosphere with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 900°C for four heating rates: 2 K min⁻¹, 5 K min⁻¹, 10 K min⁻¹, and 15 K min⁻¹. Hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin were used as the main compounds of biomass. TGA and DTG temperature dependencies were evaluated. Decomposition processes proceed in three main stages: water evaporation, and active and passive pyrolysis. The decomposition of hemicellulose and cellulose takes place in the temperature range of 200–380°C and 250–380°C, while lignin decomposition seems to be ranging from 180°C up to 900°C. The isoconversional method was used to determine kinetic parameters such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor mainly in the stage of active pyrolysis and partially in the passive stage. It was found that, at the end of the decomposition process, the value of activation energy decreases. Reaction order does not have a significant influence on the process because of the high value of the pre-exponential factor. Obtained kinetic parameters were used to calculate simulated decompositions at different heating rates. Experimental data compared with the simulation ones were in good accordance at all heating rates. From the pyrolysis of hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin it is clear that the decomposition process of wood is dependent on the composition and concentration of the main compounds.     

Kinetic study of the pyrolysis of neoprene

Kinetics of neoprene thermal decomposition has been performed under dynamic conditions at different heating rates, between 5 and 80 °C/min in a TG apparatus. The same kinetic model has been applied simultaneously to runs performed at different heating rates and different atmospheres allowing a good correlation of the weight loss data. A mechanism based on three independent reactions has been used to model the thermal decomposition. The first reaction is of an order close to two, and the other two reactions are of order below one, similar to other plastic materials. Different alternatives for the mathematical treatment for fitting TG data were considered. The accuracy of the calculated kinetic parameters was studied by means of a sensibility analysis.     

Kinetics study of norbixin’s first stage thermal decomposition,using dynamic method

Cis-norbixin isomer obtained by hydrolysis of cis-bixin and isolated by solvent extraction from annatto seeds. The thermal decomposition data of the cis-norbixin samples were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates in the 25–900°C temperature range. DSC curves showed that thermal decomposition reactions for cis-norbixin occurred in the solid phase. The kinetic parameters, such as activation energy and pre-exponential factor were determined using integral and approximate methods: Coats–Redfern, Madhusudanan, Horowitz–Metzger and Van Krevelen. F1 mechanism describes well the first stage of the thermal decomposition.     

Pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of Bio-oil from swine manure

Pyrolysis and combustion characteristics of bio-oil derived from swine manure were investigated using thermogravimetry techniques. Thermogravimetric analysis of the bio-oils were carried out in O₂ and N₂ atmosphere under different heating rates (5–20 °C/min) to a maximum temperature of 900 °C. The results indicate that the combustion processes of bio-oil occurred in three stages, namely the water and the lighter compound evaporation, i.e., the release of the volatile compounds, ignition and burning of the heavier compounds (mainly carbon), and finally decomposition of the carbonate compounds. The effect of heating rate was also studied, and higher heating rates were found to facilitate the combustion process. Different reaction kinetic mechanisms were used to treat TG data, and showed that diffusion models are the best fit for describing the combustion of bio-oil in air. The kinetic parameters of the three stages were determined using Coats–Redfern method. The study provided reliable basic data for the burning of bio-oil.     

Study on the pyrolysis of Moroccan oil shale with poly (ethylene terephthalate)

Investigations into the pyrolytic behaviours of oil shale, poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and their mixture have been conducted using a thermogravimetric analyzer. Experiments were carried out dynamically by increasing the temperature from 298 to 1,273 K with heating rates of 2–100 K/min under a nitrogen atmosphere. Discrepancies between the experimental and calculated TG/DTG profiles were considered as a measurement of the extent of interactions occurring on co-pyrolysis. The maximum degradation temperature of each component in the mixture was higher than those the individual components; thus an increase in thermal stability was expected. The kinetic processing of thermogravimetric data was carried out using Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) method.     

Thermal behaviour of some industrial and food dyes

Thermal behavior of four food dyes, i.e. tartrazine, crysoine, azorubine and amarant was studied under non-isothermal conditions, in dynamic air atmosphere and at heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20°C min^–1. The TG data were correlated to the FTIR spectra of each sample, before and after the thermal decomposition. Kinetic study by processing the TG data was performed. The main conclusion of this study is that the non-parametric kinetic method allows a separation of the steps of a complex process and that the values of the activation energy obtained by this method agree satisfactory with that of Flynn–Wall–Ozawa estimation.     

Determination of the Thermal Degradation Kinetic Parameters of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Using TG

In this work, a kinetic study on the thermal degradation of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy is presented. The degradation is investigated by means of dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TG) in air and inert atmosphere at heating rates from 0.5 to 20°C min⁻¹ . Curves obtained by TG in air are quite different from those obtained in nitrogen. A three-step loss is observed during dynamic TG in air while mass loss proceeded as a two step process in nitrogen at fast heating rate. To elucidate this difference, a kinetic analysis is carried on. A kinetic model described by the Kissinger method or by the Ozawa method gives the kinetic parameters of the composite decomposition. Apparent activation energy calculated by Kissinger method in oxidative atmosphere for each step is between 40–50 kJ mol⁻¹ upper than E _a calculated in inert atmosphere. The thermo-oxidative degradation illustrated by Ozawa method shows a stable apparent activation energy (E _a ≈130 kJ mol⁻¹ ) even though the thermal degradation in nitrogen flow presents a maximum E _a for 15% mass loss (E _a ≈60 kJ mol⁻¹ ). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic Aspect of Thermal Decomposition of Natural Phosphate and its Kerogen. Influence of heating rate and mineral matter

The natural phosphate and its demineralization products from Moroccan deposit were pyrolysed in a thermogravimetric analyser (TG) to examine the influence of the heating rate and mineral matter on their thermal decomposition. The heating rates investigated in the TG were 5–100°C min⁻¹ to final temperature of 1200°C. The integral method was used in the analysis of the TG to determine the kinetic parameters. It has been found that for the natural phosphate and corresponding kerogen analysed in the TG, the increase of the heating rate shifts the maximum rate loss to higher temperature. A first order reaction was found to be adequate for pyrolysis in the range 150–600°C which was attributed to kerogen decomposition. In addition, the results indicate that the removal of mineral matter affected the kinetic parameters found for kerogen in the natural phosphate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study of kinetics and thermodynamics of the dehydration reaction of AlPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> · H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

The kinetics and thermodynamics of the thermal dehydration of aluminum phosphate monohydrate, AlPO₄ · H₂O were studied using thermogravimetry (TG-DTG-DTA) at four heating rates in dry air atmosphere. The activation energies of the dehydration step of AlPO₄ · H₂O were calculated through the methods of Friedman (FR) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) and the possible conversion function has been estimated through the Achar and Li–Tang equations. The independent activation energies on extent of conversions and the better kinetic model of the dehydration reaction for AlPO₄ · H₂O indicate single kinetic mechanism and the F _2.05 model as a simple n-order reaction of “chemical process or mechanism no-invoking equation”, respectively. The positive values of ΔH^# and ΔG^# for the dehydration reaction show that it is endothermic and non-spontaneous process and it is connected with the introduction of heat. The kinetic and thermodynamic functions calculated for the dehydration reaction by different techniques and methods were found to be consistent.     

Coupled thermogravimetric-IR techniques and kinetic analysis by non-isothermal decomposition of Cd<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> vinyl-phosphonates

The thermal behavior of Cd²⁺ and Co²⁺ vinyl-phosphonates was studied using two different experimental strategies: the coupled TG–EGA (FTIR) technique by decomposition in nitrogen, respectively, air, and the kinetic analysis of TG data obtained in dynamic air atmosphere at four heating rates. The both compounds exhibited a good thermal stability: in nitrogen, only an endothermic dehydration step was observed. In air the Cd²⁺ salt presents the same dehydration step whereas by the Co²⁺ salt two simultaneous processes take place dehydration, respectively, thermooxidative destruction of the vinyl group. The kinetic analysis of the TG data was performed with the Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Friedman’s, and modified non-parametric kinetic methods. By means of the coupled techniques, some spectroscopic arguments on the reaction mechanism were obtained. The values of the activation energy by the three methods are in good agreement and support the two different suggested mechanism.