Thermal degradation of polyurethane based on MDI and propoxylated trimethylol propane

A polyurethane based on diphenyl methane diisocyanate (MDI) and propoxylated trimethylol propane was thermally degraded by using the techniques of pyrolysis and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in an inert atmosphere. Identification of pyrolysis gaseous products at 600°C showed that the first degradation step consists of a reversal of the polycondensation process, i.e., dissociation into starting polyol and diisocyanate, followed by the polyol degradation and a probable diisocyanate polymerization. Kinetic parameters were determined using dynamic and isothermal TGA curves. It is shown that the degradation can be closely compared with a random chain scission process.     

Pyrolsis of a flexible urethane foam

Pyrolysis of a commercial flexible urethane foam in an inert atmosphere was investigated by use of GCMS and chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. Pyrolysis products were identified and quantified at four pyrolysis temperatures. A mechanism is discussed in terms of the identified products.     

Study on fire performance and pyrolysis of polyurethane foam material containing DMMP/TCPP

In this paper, an efficient flame retardant polyurethane foam (PUF) material consisting of phosphorus-halogen flame retardants has been prepared by adding dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP). The limiting oxygen index measurement and thermal analysis have been used for accessing the flame retardancy and thermal properties of the PUF sample. Thermal decomposition process of the sample and its evolved gaseous products at different temperatures during pyrolyzing have been investigated and identified via thermogravimetric analysis by coupling with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Influence of DMMP and TCPP on the evolved gaseous products during pyrolysis has been discussed here.     

不同氛围下绿原酸的热解行为及其裂解产物中苯酚含量分布规律研究

采用热重分析法(TGA)及在线裂解气相色谱-质谱联用仪(Py/GC - MS)研究了烟草中绿原酸在不同氛围下的热解行为及其含量分布规律.先用TGA确定了绿原酸在氮气氛围中的主要热失重区间,选取4个典型的温度点,再结合卷烟在高温燃烧区的3个温度点,分别在惰性(氦气)和有氧(含9％氧气的氮氧混合气)氛围中进行热裂解实验,对...     

Effectiveness of antioxidants: Suppression of evolution of gaseous degradation products from low-density polyethylene during thermo-oxidation

The present investigation is part of a project concerning improvements of the working environment for polymer manufacturing processes at high temperatures; for example, welding and extrusion coating.The evolution of gaseous degradation products from unstabilized and antioxidant stabilized low-density polyethylene during thermo-oxidation in air at 210°C has been studied by a simple technique using a modified gas chromatograph. Of the thirteen antioxidants investigated (phenols, phosphites, phosphonites, sulphides and metal dithiocarbamates), only phenols (radical scavengers) effectively suppress the formation of gaseous degradation products from the polymer during an induction period.The gaseous degradation products were analysed with combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), using direct trapping on the GC column (Porapak® QS). Apart from water and carbon dioxide, the major products are formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, formic and acetic acids. The addition of effective antioxidants strongly reduces the absolute amounts of the degradation products during the induction period, but does not change their relative quantities.     

毛竹酶解/温和酸水解木质素的快速热解研究

采用热裂解-气相色谱/质谱仪联用技术,研究毛竹酶解/温和酸水解木质素(简称EMAL)的热解特性和热解产物的分布与形成规律.以温度为重要因素,研究其对木质素快速热裂解产物的影响,并通过主要的热解产物推断热解反应途径.研究结果表明,EMAL的热解产物主要是2,3-二氢苯并呋喃、酚类、脂类和少量乙酸.热解温度对热解产物组分的相对含量有显著影响,250~400 ℃时,产物主要是2,3-二氢苯并呋喃,320 ℃时其相对含量最高,达到66.26%;400~800 ℃时,热解产物主要是酚类,600 ℃时其相对含量最高,达到62.58%;800 ℃时出现了少量的乙酸.     

Pyrolysis of waste materials using TGA-MS and TGA-FTIR as complementary characterisation techniques

Pyrolysis of waste materials, biomass wood waste, waste tyre, refuse derived fuel (RDF) and waste plastic was performed using two thermogravimetric analysers (TGA). One TGA was coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS) and the other to an infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The kinetic parameters of the pyrolysed waste materials obtained for TGA-MS and TGA-FTIR were compared using a model based on first-order reactions with a distribution of the activation energies. A further comparison of the volatile species evolved by thermal degradation (TGA) and the subsequent characterisation by the MS and FTIR spectra was performed. The first-order reaction pathways and subsequent activation energies calculated from the differential TGA data presented good repeatability between the TGA-MS and TGA-FTIR. The TGA-MS and TGA-FTIR produced a broad spectrum of qualitative data characterising the volatile gaseous fraction of the waste materials pyrolysed. TGA-MS and TGA-FTIR are shown to be valuable techniques in corroborating the respective thermograms and spectrograms of the volatile species evolved during the pyrolysis of waste materials. However both techniques are prone to interference and careful interpretation of the spectra produced is required.     

Thermochemical conversion of cellulose in polar solvent (sulfolane) into levoglucosan and other low molecular-weight substances

Pyrolysis of cellulose in sulfolane, an aprotic polar solvent, was conducted at the temperature between 200 and 330 °C. Sulfolane was used as a good solvent for levoglucosan, the major anhydromonosaccharide formed from cellulose pyrolysis, for prevention of the polymerization reaction. Cellulose was observed completely decomposed into soluble products in sulfolane within 3, 10, 60 and 480 min at 330, 280, 240 and 200 °C, respectively. The soluble products had molecular weights less than 500 after acetylation (GPC analysis) and similar product composition to that from cellulose pyrolysis under nitrogen (levoglucosan, levoglucosenone, furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by HPLC analysis). Pyrolysis of cellulose in polar solvent, which can solubilize anhydromonosaccharides, is proposed as a method for selective formation of levoglucosan and other low molecular-weight (MW) substances. As well, the cellulose pyrolysis in sulfolane did not suffer from carbonization reactions (microscopic and IR spectroscopic analysis) as did cellulose pyrolysis under nitrogen or in dioctyl phthalate (a poor solvent for levoglucosan) which gave brown/black solids. The residues obtained from the pyrolysis in sulfolane were colorless and gave similar IR spectra to that of the original cellulose. Based on these results, a ‘surface-peeling mechanism’ is proposed, and the role of the solvent in the mechanism is discussed.     

Pyrolysis of rapidly growing grass biomass under isothermal conditions

The pyrolysis of rapidly growing grass biomass in an inert atmosphere was studied by thermogravimetric analysis using sorghum as an example. Pyrolysis was performed under isothermal conditions at temperatures from 250 to 400°C. To describe the reaction kinetics, a single-component model including six first-order reactions was proposed. A special feature of this model is the occurrence of a step of the formation of an intermediate carbonaceous substance from the volatile products of biomass decomposition.     

碳前驱体CH3ArCH2NH2的热解性能及动力学研究

通过密闭压力容器法、常压DSC、高压DSC及紫外分光光度定量分析法等实验手段,对液相沉积法制碳／碳复合材料用碳前驱体CH3ArCH2NH2的热裂解行为进行了研究,获得不同温度、不同压力下该碳前驱体的热分解温度和残碳率,用等温动力学和非等温动力学方法获得了热裂解反应的表观活化能,实验结果表明,常压热裂解温度大约为530．15－556．55K,1－3MPa的高压范围内的热裂解温度大约在618．34－675．49K,密闭压力容器中的残碳率为56．23％,常压下的残碳率为28．96％－36．47％,而高压下残碳率可达59．11％,根据基辛格等方法获得了等温条件下和非等温条件下热裂解反应的表观活化能Ea分别为206．78kJ/mol和183．93kJ/mol, 反应级数N~1.     

Thermal Degradation of Glutamate Polymers

Thermal properties of precipitated samples and films of poly-γ-benzyl-L-glutamate (PBG) and poly-L-glutamic acid (PGA) have been studied using TGA, DSC, and pyrolysis. The PBG film was identified as that described by McKinnon and Tobolsky as “form C” (“film A” of Uematsu et al.) using IR, dielectric relaxation, and DSC data. The PGA film is α-helical (IR) and was further characterized by dielectric relaxation measurements. With the exception of water loss at ～110° from PGA, TGA and DSC measurements reveal only incomplete endotherms corresponding to decomposition. Volatile decomposition products were trapped and identified using combined GC/IR and GC/MS techniques. Identified products were as follows: from PGB–CO₂, NH₃, H₂O, toluene, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and benzoic acid; from PGA–CO₂, NH₃, CH₃OH, acetone, and H₂O. Only minor differences were noted in GC traces of the total volatile decomposition products in air or in nitrogen streams. No evidence for retained solvent in cast films was obtained.     

Kinetic Study on Pyrolysis of Extracted Oil Palm Fiber. Isothermal and non-isothermal conditions

Pyrolysis of extracted oil palm fibers under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions was carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Isothermal curves showed that increasing pyrolysis temperature resulted in a faster pyrolysis and a higher conversion of oil palm fibers into gaseous products. Raw material sizes (below 1.0 mm) had insignificant effects on the isothermal pyrolysis, but the fibers with a size fraction of 1.0 to 2.0 mm resulted in a lesser conversion. Two-step reactions were found in the non-isothermal pyrolysis as evidenced by the presence of two peaks in the derivative thermogravimetry curves. Raw material sizes had no obvious effects on the temperature at which the maximum rate of pyrolysis occurred, but affected the rate of sample mass loss. For the low and high temperature regimes, a three-dimensional diffusion mechanism and a first-order of reaction mechanism respectively were used to describe the non-isothermal pyrolysis kinetics of extracted oil palm fibers. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sulphur distribution in the products of waste tire pyrolysis

The aim of the presented work was to investigate the distribution of sulphur in tire pyrolysis products as well as the influence of process parameters (temperature and residence time) on sulphur distribution due to environmental concerns. Among modern methods used for waste tire recycling, pyrolysis is one of the most reasonable alternatives meeting current environmental standards. However, waste tire sulphur content can be a potential drawback for pyrolysis products utilisation as fuels. Sulphur is present in tires in different concentrations, depending on the type and age of the tires. Typical sulphur content in tires is about 1.6 mass %. In this paper, the distribution of sulphur in tire pyrolysis products was investigated. Tire pyrolysis yields three different products: liquid, gaseous, and solid residue composed mostly of carbon black (chars). Temperature and residence time are the two most important parameters affecting the yield and composition of the volatile fraction and they are therefore expected to affect the sulphur content in residues. Pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a laboratory pyrolysis reaction unit in the temperature range of 650°C to 750°C at different residence times: 88.6 s, 80.2 s, and 73.9 s. Liquid and solid products were analysed by elemental analysis and the distribution of total sulphur in tire pyrolysis products was calculated.     

A pyrolysis-GC–MS investigation of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone)

The thermal decomposition process and pyrolysis products of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone) (PVPK) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and on-line pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS). TGA showed a largest weight loss rate around 380 °C. Py-GC–MS was used for the qualitative analysis of the pyrolysis products at 350, 500, 600, 700 and 850 °C. The major volatile thermal decomposition product was found to be 1-phenyl-2-propenone, which dominated all other volatile species especially under the least severe pyrolysis conditions (<600 °C). At higher temperatures a much wider range of pyrolysis products was obtained. The results have been interpreted assuming that primary random chain scission reactions occur followed by typical unzipping mainly producing monomer units; detachment of the side-group occurs only under more severe pyrolysis conditions. Py-GC–MS showed to be effective in PVPK detection in ink and paint formulations.     

新型潜香化合物3,6-二甲基-2,5-吡嗪二甲酸二薄荷醇酯的热裂解产物

为开发新型高温释放型烟用香料,以2,3,5,6-四甲基吡嗪和薄荷醇为原料,经过酯化反应制备了3,6-二甲基-2,5-吡嗪二甲酸二薄荷醇酯(DPAME).采用在线热裂解-气相色谱-质谱联用技术(Py-GC-MS)在空气氛围和不同的温度(300、600和900 ℃)下,对DPAME进行热裂解研究,裂解产物经GC-MS进行了定性和半定量分析.结果表明,DPAME在300 ℃下裂解产生了多种有致香效果的醛类、薄荷烯和薄荷醇等;在600 ℃和900 ℃下裂解产生了烯烃类、烷基吡嗪、薄荷醇和薄荷烯等香味物质,并且吡嗪类的种类和相对含量在这两个温度下明显增加.结合DPAME的热裂解产物分析和卷烟感官评吸结果,初步推测了其可能的裂解机理.采用该方法可以方便、快速地分离鉴定物质的热裂解产物,为该物质在烟草中的加香应用提供理论依据.     

Influence of the interaction of components on the pyrolysis behavior of biomass

There has been much interest in the utilization of biomass-derived fuels as substitutes for fossil fuels in meeting renewable energy requirements to reduce CO₂ emissions. In this study, the pyrolysis characteristics of biomass have been investigated using both a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR) and an experimental pyrolyzer. Experiments have been conducted with the three major components of biomass, i.e. hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, and with four mixed biomass samples comprising different proportions of these. Product distributions in terms of char, bio-oil, and permanent gas are given, and the compositions of the bio-oil and gaseous products have been analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography (GC). The TG results show that the thermal decomposition of levoglucosan is extended over a wider temperature range according to the interaction of hemicellulose or lignin upon the pyrolysis of cellulose; the formation of 2-furfural and acetic acid is enhanced by the presence of cellulose and lignin in the range 350-500 °C; and the amount of phenol, 2,6-dimethoxy is enhanced by the integrated influence of cellulose and hemicellulose. The components do not act independently during pyrolysis; the experimental results have shown that the interaction of cellulose and hemicellulose strongly promotes the formation of 2, 5-diethoxytetrahydrofuran and inhibits the formation of altrose and levoglucosan, while the presence of cellulose enhances the formation of hemicellulose-derived acetic acid and 2-furfural. Pyrolysis characteristics of biomass cannot be predicted through its composition in the main components.     

Thermal degradation characteristics of rigid polyurethane foam and the volatile products analysis with TG-FTIR-MS

Thermal degradation characteristics of rigid polyurethane (PUR) foam in both air and nitrogen gaseous environments were studied using thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) hyphenated techniques. And in situ Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was employed to investigate the characteristic functional groups of the decomposition residues at different temperatures. It is found that the thermal degradation of PUR material in air and N₂ present a three-stage and a two-stage process, respectively. And the degradation reaction rate of PUR in air is accelerated significantly due to the presence of oxygen. The thermal degradation mechanism of PUR under non-oxidizing gaseous environment was evaluated using a TGA instrument coupled with Fourier Transform Infrared and mass spectrometer (TG-FTIR-MS). HCFC-141b served as blowing agent is detected at the initial stage. The urethane bond groups of PUR start to break up into isocyanates segments and polyols segments from about 200 °C. With an increase of temperature, the polyols decompose into some kinds of aliphatic ether alcohol. In the temperature range of 350–500 °C, the dominant volatile products are primary amines, secondary amines, vinyl ethers and CO₂.     

Slow pyrolysis of pre-dried sewage sludge

This study focuses on the use of slow pyrolysis with controlled temperature increase for the thermal decomposition of pre-dried wastewater sludge. A combination of two significantly different methods was applied to investigate the pyrolysis process. The first of the experimental approaches was based on laboratory apparatus with a vertical batch retort equipped with external electrical heating. Samples of the liquid and gaseous products of the pyrolysis were taken at defined intervals throughout the pyrolysis process and were subsequently analysed. The second method involved the application of thermal analysis to the identical sludge, completed by online analysis of the pyrolysis products generated. This second method included thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results obtained by both methods demonstrate that waste water sludge can be effectively converted into pyrolysis gas and oil with good combustion properties.     

Thermal degradation behaviour of radiation grafted FEP-g-polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes

The thermal degradation behaviour and the gaseous products of FEP-g-polystyrene sulfonic acid membranes prepared by radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) films and the subsequent sulfonation were studied using thermal gravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA/FTIR). The membranes were found to have a three-step degradation behaviour due to water removal, elimination of sulfonic acid groups and decomposition of the FEP matrix. The evolving gaseous products were identified using FTIR analysis. The degree of grafting was found to have a strong effect on the weight loss in the membranes, whilst the degradation temperatures of the individual membrane components were shown to be independent of the degree of grafting.     

Membrane extraction with sorbent interface-gas chromatography as an effective and fast means for continuous monitoring of thermal degradation products of polyacrylonitrile

A novel sample preparation technique, membrane extraction with a sorbent interface (MESI) has been optimized and used for continuous monitoring thermal degradation products in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer headspace at different temperatures, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MESI with a flat sheet poly(dimethyl siloxane)-polycarbonate (PDMS-PC) membrane and Tenax trap was used. The system is very simple, fast and reliable and allowed us to extract, enrich and continuously monitor major volatile compounds released from the polymer at different temperatures. The volatile and semi-volatile gaseous degradation products were identified. Sensitivity of the method depends on the length of time for trapping.