Hoffman-Lauritzen parameters for non-isothermal crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene oxide) melts

Summary By applying an advanced isoconversional method to DSC data one can evaluate a dependence of the effective activation energy (the temperature coefficient of the growth rate) on the relative extent of melt crystallization. The conversion dependence can further be converted into a temperature dependence and parameterized in terms of the Hoffman-Lauritzen equation. For poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) we observe a transition from regime I to II. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) crystallization appears to begin in regime II and then undergoes 2 consecutive changes that however cannot be clearly interpreted as regime III. The K_g and _e parameters obtained for regime I and II (PET) and regime II (PEO) are consistent with the respective parameters reported for isothermal crystallization.     

Thermal stability of poly(styrene) containing no head-to-head units

General purpose poly(styrene) prepared by conventional radical techniques contains a head-to-head unit as a consequence of polymerization termination by radical coupling. As has been previously demonstrated, thermal stress promotes homolysis of the bond linking the head-to-head components. The macroradicals generated depolymerize rapidly to generate styrene monomer. This decomposition during processing can lead to finished articles containing objectionable levels of styrene monomer, particularly for food packaging applications in which even low levels of monomer can promote objectionable taste and aroma. Polymer containing no head-to-head units should not be prone to this facile decomposition. In this instance, poly(styrene) has been prepared by nitroxyl-mediated polymerization of styrene monomer followed by reductive removal of nitroxyl end groups. Polymer prepared in this manner contains no head-to-head units and displays thermal stability much greater than that observed for conventional poly(styrene). A direct comparison of the stability for the two polymers is readily available by thermogravimetric techniques. A quantitative reflection of the difference in stability is available from the rate constants for the respective decomposition.     

Thermal Decompositions of (RE)Ba2Cu3O6 (RE=Y,Nd, Er)

Thermogravimetric in situ measurements of oxygen loss from (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O₆ samples (RE=Y, Nd, Er) heated isothermally in a relatively high dynamic vacuum were made with a Cahn RG electrobalance. Single-phase orthorhombic samples of composition (RE)Ba₂Cu₃O_7-x (highest oxygen content) were synthesized from stoichiometric (1:2:3) mixtures of high-purity (RE)₂O₃, BaCO₃ and CuO. The original 1:2:3 mixture was prepared by the two-stage procedure described earlier. The crystal structure of the sample in the original orthorhombic phase was controlled by the X-ray powder method (CuKα radiation) using a Stadi P Stoe diffractometer with a position-sensitive detector. The decomposition curves are described by the sum of exponential terms corresponding to rapid and slow first-order processes in which differently sized grains of the powder samples are involved. The activation energies are estimated from appropriate Arrhenius plots. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modification of the integral isoconversional method to account for variation in the activation energy

Integral isoconversional methods may give rise to noticeable systematic error in the activation energy when the latter strongly varies with the extent of conversion. This error is eliminated by using an integration technique that properly accounts for the variation in the activation energy. The technique is implemented as a modification of the earlier proposed advanced isoconversional method [Vyazovkin, S. J Comput Chem 1997, 18, 393]. The applications of the modified method are illustrated by simulations as well as by processing of data on the thermal decomposition of calcium oxalate monohydrate and ammonium nitrate. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 178–183, 2001     

Effect of the structure of amphiphilic poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers on styrene emulsion polymerization

Amphiphilic graft copolymers consisting of monomeric units of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether acrylate, lauryl or stearyl methacrylate, and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized and characterized. The effectiveness of these poly(ethylene glycol)‐containing graft copolymers in stabilizing styrene emulsion polymerization was evaluated. The polymerization rate (R_p) increases with increasing graft copolymer concentration, initiator concentration, or temperature. At a constant graft copolymer concentration, R_p increases, and the amount of coagulum decreases with the increasing hydrophilicity of graft copolymers. The polymerization system does not follow Smith–Ewart case II kinetics. The desorption of free radicals out of latex particles plays an important role in the polymerization kinetics. The overall activation energy and the activation energy for the radical desorption process are 85.4 and 34.3 kJ/mol, respectively. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1608–1624, 2002     

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Some Di‐ and Triorganotin(IV) Carboxylates Derived from para‐Nitrophenylethanoic Acid

Thermogravimetric (TG) investigations of organotin(IV) carboxylates with the general formula R_mSnL_4−m (where R=CH₃, C₂H₅, n‐C₄H₉, C₆H₅, cyclo‐C₆H₁₁, n‐C₈H₁₇, m=2, 3, and L=para‐nitrophenylethanoate anion) have been performed. Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques, Horowitz‐Metzger method and the fundamental thermodynamic relations are used to evaluate the thermokinetic parameters of each thermal degradation pattern. Results reveal that the thermal stability is functional to Sn C and Sn O bonds. In the case of R₂SnL₂, activation energy, reaction order and pre‐exponential factor associated with the bulk degradation processes increase as the alkane chain length increases. Hence, Oct₂SnL₂ is thermally more stable than Bu₂SnL₂, which in turn is more resistant to thermal dissociation than Et₂SnL₂. The same phenomenon is not observed for R₃SnL compounds because their degradation is highly irregular. Furthermore, R₂SnL₂ has larger values of kinetic parameters than those of corresponding triorganotin(IV) para‐nitrophenylethanotes. Thermodynamic parameters of these compounds also reinforce the above facts.     

Thermal behaviour of styrene butadiene rubber/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) blends

The thermal behaviour of styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)/poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) blends was studied by using thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of blend ratio, cross-linking systems and compatibilization on the thermal stability and phase transition of the blends were analyzed. It was found that the mass loss of the blends at any temperature was lower than that of the components, highlighting the advantage of blending SBR and EVA. The addition of compatibilizer was also found to improve the thermal stability. DSC studies indicated the thermodynamic immiscibility of SBR/EVA system even in the presence of the compatibilizer. This is evident from the presence of two different glass transition temperatures, corresponding to SBR and EVA phases in both compatibilized and uncompatibilized blends.     

Thermal Studies on Some Ionic Chelates of Hafnium(IV)

Ionic chelate complexes of kojic acid(I) and hafnium(IV) of the type [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂HfL]⁺[MCl₃]^– (II)[HL=kojic acid; M=Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Cu(II)] have been synthesised and characterised by spectral studies (IR, UV, ¹H NMR and ¹³CNMR). Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analytical (DTA) studies have been carried out for these complexes and from the TG curves, the order and apparent activation energy for the thermal decomposition reactions have been elucidated. The various thermal studies have been correlated with some structural aspects of the complexes concerned. From DTA curves, the heat of reaction has been calculated. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal properties of poly(styrene) containing brominated aryl phosphate additives

General purpose poly(styrene) is a large volume commodity polymer widely used in a range of applications. For many of these the presence of an additive to impart some flammability resistance is required. Most commonly, brominated aromatics are used for this purpose. As the polymer undergoes combustion these compounds decompose to generate bromine atoms and/or hydrogen bromide which escape to the gas phase and trap flame propagating radicals. While these species are effective in inhibiting flame propagation they present the opportunity for loss of halogen to the atmosphere. For this reason, the use of these compounds is being limited in some parts of the world. Phosphorus compounds, on the other had, impart a flame retarding influence by promoting char formation at the surface of the burning polymer. This prevents heat feedback to the polymer and consequent pyrolysis to generate fuel fragments. The combination of both bromine and phosphorus present in a single compound might generate a superior flame-retarding additive in that both modes of retardancy might be promoted simultaneously. Should this be the case smaller amounts of additive might be necessary to achieve a satisfactory level of flame retardancy. A series of such additives, brominated aryl phosphates, has been synthesized and fully characterized spectroscopically. Blends of these additives, at various levels, with poly(styrene) have been examined by DSC, TG and in the UL-94 flame test. The flammability of the polymer is dramatically diminished by the presence of the additive.     

Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of poly (phenylene sulphide) in composites with a liquid crystalline polymer

The article deals with the melting and nonisothermal crystallization behavior of neat poly (phenylene sulphide) (PPS) and its composites with a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP)—Vectra A950, prepared by melt mixing and probed by differential scanning calorimetry. The various macrokinetic models namely, the Ozawa, the modified Avrami, the Tobin, and the Mo models were applied to describe the crystallization kinetics under nonisothermal conditions. The kinetic crystallizabilty of PPS/TLCP composites calculated using the approach of Ziabicki varies depending on these two composite composition‐induced effects. Similarly Mo model predicts that to obtain a higher degree of crystallizabilty for PPS/TLCP composites, a higher cooling rate should be used. The effective energy barrier based on the differential isoconversional method of Friedman is found to be an increasing function of relative degree of melt conversion. The effect is explained in terms of nucleation theory proposed by Wunderlich to crystallization of polymers. The Lauritzen–Hoffman parameters are estimated using G = 1/t_0.5 effective activation energy equation proposed by Vyazovkin and Sbirrazzuoli. The K_g values estimated from latter equations are more comparable with values obtained using isothermal crystallization data than 1/t_0.5 method. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis using this equation shows a regime transition from regime II to regime III for 100/00, 90/10, 80/20 PPS/TLCP composites, basically attributed to reduced mobility of PPS chains in composites. This regime II to III transition is accompanied by a morphological transition from defective spherulitic sheaf‐like structures to ordered sheaf‐like structures. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1070–1100, 2010     

Comparative Study of the Thermal Stability of the Epoxy Systems BADGE n=0/1, 2 DCH and BADGE n=0/1, 2 DCH/CaCO3

The thermal degradation of the epoxy systems diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE n=0)/1, 2 diamine cyclohexane (DCH) and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE n=0)/1, 2 diaminecyclohexane (DCH) containing calcium carbonate filler immersed and not immersed in hydrochloric acid have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis in order to compare their decomposition processes and to determine the reaction mechanism of the degradation processes. The value of the activation energies, necessary for this study, were calculated using various integral and differential methods. Analysis of the results suggests that hydrochloric acid does not affect the decomposition of the epoxy network and that the reaction mechanisms produce sigmoidal-type curves for the systems not immersed in HCl and deceleration curves for the same systems immersed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study of Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Low-temperature Reaction of Ammonium Perchlorate by Isothermal TG

The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate at temperatures between 215 and 260°C is studied, in this work, by measuring the sample mass loss as a function of time applying the isothermal thermogravimetric method. From the maximum decomposition rate – temperature dependence two different decomposition stages, corresponding to two different structural phases of ammonium perchlorate, are identified. For the first region (215–235°C), corresponding to the orthorhombic phase, the mean value of the activation energy of 146.3 kJ mol^–1, and the pre-exponential factor of 3.43⋅10¹⁴ min^–1 are obtained, whereas for the second region (240–260°C), corresponding to the cubic phase, the mean value of the activation energy of153.3 kJ mol^–1, and the pre-exponential factor of 4.11⋅10¹⁴ min^–1 are obtained. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Advanced isoconversional method

A nonlinear algorithm has been suggested to increase the accuracy of evaluating the activation energy by the integral isoconversional method. A minor modification of the algorithm has made it possible to adapt the isoconversional method for an arbitrary variation of the temperature. This advanced isoconversional method allows for trustworthy estimates of the activation energy when the thermal effect of a reaction makes the temperature of a sample deviate from a prescribed heating program.     

Kinetic analysis of the α-β HgI2 phase transition

The kinetics of the α-β phase transition of HgI₂ were investigated by isothermal and non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry. The effective activation energy of the transition, 415±40 kJ mol^-1, was determined applying the methods of Kissinger and Ozawa. The transition kinetics were described by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model and the value of the Avrami exponent n was found to range from high values (n>3) at the early stages to lower values at later stages of the transformation, with an average value of 2. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Kinetic Analysis of the Thermal Decomposition of Dialkyldithiocarbamates Chelates of Indium(III)

The kinetics of thermal decomposition of solid In(S₂CNR₂)₃ complexes, (R=CH₃, C₂H₅, n-C₃H₇,i-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉ and i-C₄H₉), has been studied using isothermal and non-isothermal thermogravimetry. Superimposed TG/DTG/DSC curves show that thermal decomposition reactions occur in the liquid phase, except for the In(S₂CNMe₂)₃ and In(S₂CNPrⁱ ₂)₃ compounds. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

环氧化聚丁二烯/酸酐体系的热固化行为研究

使用差动热分析仪 ,以等速升温热固化和等温热固化方式研究了环氧化聚丁二烯及双酚A型环氧树脂在α 甲基 四氢苯酐、顺酐、酸酐 70 # 等固化剂作用下的热固化行为 ,确定了LEPB MBA体系固化反应的活化能在71.90～ 75 .0 3kJ·mol-1之间。实验证明 ,环氧化聚丁二烯和双酚A型环氧树脂在固化行为方面存在明显的差异     

Thermal studies on some organotin(IV) complexes with piperidine and 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamates

The complexes of piperidine dithiocarbamate, 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamate and organotin(IV) of the type R₃Sn(L¹), R₂Sn(L¹)₂, R₃Sn(L²), R₂Sn(L²)₂, [R=C₆H₅CH₂ (benzyl), p-ClC₆H₄CH₂ (p-chlorobenzyl), L ¹=sodium piperidine dithiocarbamate and L ²=sodium 2-aminopyridine dithiocarbamate] have been synthesised and characterised by spectral studies (IR, UV, ¹H NMR). Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analytical (DTA) studies have beeen carried out for these complexes and from the TG curves, the order and apparent activation energy for the thermal decomposition reactions have been elucidated. The various thermal studies have been correlated with some structural aspects of the complexes concerned. From DTA curves, the heat of reaction has been calculated.     

Calculation of activation energies using the sinusoidally modulated temperature

Activation energy is calculated from a single curve of a derivative of mass loss perturbed by a sinusoidal modulation of a temperature-time relationship. The method is based on a prediction of a hypothetical derivative of mass loss that corresponds to the absence of this modulation (perturbation). Simple considerations show that the unperturbed derivative coincides with the modulated derivative at inflection points of the modulated temperature-time relationship. The ratio of the perturbed and unperturbed derivatives at the points of time corresponding to maxima and minima of the sinusoidal component of the modulated temperature immediately leads to activation energy. Accuracy of the method grows with decreasing in the amplitude of the modulation. All illustrations are prepared numerically. It makes possible to objectively test the method and to investigate its errors. Two-stage decomposition kinetics with two independent (parallel) reactions is considered as an example. The kinetic parameters are chosen so that the derivative of mass loss would represent two overlapping peaks. The errors are introduced into the modulated derivative by the random-number generator with the normal distribution. Standard deviation for the random allocation of errors is selected with respect to maximum of the derivative. If the maximum of the derivative is observed within the region from 200 to 600°C and the amplitude of the temperature modulation is equal to 5°C, the error in the derivative 0.5% leads to the error in activation energy being equal to 2-6 kJ mol^-1. As the derivative vanishes, the error grows and tends to infinity in the regions of the start and end of decomposition. With the absolute error 0.5% evaluations of activation energy are impossible beyond the region from 5 to 95% of mass loss. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal denaturation of collagen analyzed by isoconversional method

An isoconversional method is proposed to be used for evaluating activation energy of protein denaturation. Applied to DSC data on collagen denaturation, the method yields an activation energy that decreases throughout the process. The Lumry-Eyring model gives an explanation for this decrease and affords estimates for the enthalpy of the reversible step and the activation energy of the irreversible step of denaturation. The reversible unfolding is detectable by multi-frequency temperature-modulated DSC.