Thermogravimetry of the thermal degradation of Japanese lacquer (urushi) films

The kinetics of the thermal degradation of Japanese lacquer (urushi) films in N₂ and in air were studied by means of thermogravimetry (TG). Thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric curves indicated that the degradation occurred in three stages. The atmosphere influenced the apparent activation energies (E _a) of the three degradation stages. The activation energies (E _a) for the first stage in N₂ and air, obtained from the TG curve, were 19.12 and 10.19 kcal mol^?1, respectively, and the corresponding pre-exponential factors (A) were 6.18 × 10⁵ and 1.24 × 10² min^?1 for 1-year-old urushi films.     

Thermogravimetric analysis of lignocellulosic and microalgae biomasses and their blends during combustion

Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study and compare the combustion of different blends of corn bioresidues with sunflower, rape and algae bioresidues. Non-isothermal thermogravimetric data were used to obtain the combustion kinetics of these bioresidues. This paper reports on the application of the Vyazovkin and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall isoconversional methods for the evaluation of kinetic parameters (energy activation, pre-exponential factor and order of reaction) for the combustion of the biomasses studied. Differences were found in the TG curves in accordance with the proximate analysis results for the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content of biomasses. The activation energy obtained from combustion (E ~ 151.6 kJ mol^?1) was lower than that from the blends (similar values were obtained for corn–sunflower, E ~ 160.5 kJ mol^?1 and corn–rape, E ~ 156.9 kJ mol^?1) whereas the activation energy obtained from the microalgae was higher (E ~ 171.5 kJ mol^?1). Both the Vyazovkin and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall methods yielded similar results.     

Thermogravimetric analysis of walnut shell as pyrolysis feedstock

Thermal degradation behavior and kinetics of a biomass waste material, namely walnut shell, were investigated by using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The desired final temperature of 800 °C was achieved at three different heating rates (2, 10, and 15 °C min^?1) under nitrogen flow (50 mL min^?1). The TG and DTG curves exhibited three distinct zones that can mainly be attributed to removal of water, decomposition of hemicellulose + cellulose, and decomposition of lignin, respectively. The kinetic parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order) of active pyrolysis zone were determined by applying Arrhenius, Coats?CRedfern, and Horowitz?CMetzger methods to TG results. The values of activation energies were found to be between 45.6 and 78.4 kJ mol^?1. There was a great agreement between the results of Arrhenius and Coats?CRedfern methods while Horowitz?CMetzger method yielded relatively higher results. The existence of kinetic compensation effect was evident.     

Thermogravimetric and kinetic analysis of energy crop Jerusalem artichoke using the distributed activation energy model

Jerusalem artichoke has great potential as future feedstock for bioenergy production because of its high tuber yield (up to 90 t ha^?1), appropriate biomass characteristics, low input demand, and positive environmental impact. The pyrolytic and kinetic characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke tubers were analyzed at heating rates of 5, 10, 20 and 30 °C min^?1. TG and DTG curves in an inert (nitrogen) atmosphere suggested that there were three distinct stages of mass loss and the major loss occurs between about 190–380 °C. Heating rate brought a lateral shift toward right in the temperature. And, it not only affects the temperature at which the highest mass loss rate reached, but also affect the maximum rate of mass loss. The distributed activation energy model (DAEM) was used to study the pyrolysis kinetics and provided reasonable fits to the experimental data. The activation energy (E) of tubers ranged from 146.40 to 232.45 kJ mol^?1, and the frequency factor (A) changed greatly corresponding to E values at different mass conversion.     

Investigation of thermal behavior of Heliotropium indicum L. lyophilized extract by TG and DSC

Thermogravimetric (TG) techniques and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) used for the study of pre-formulation or drug–adjuvant compatibility have been gaining importance in Brazil. These techniques are being used for the verification of possible interactions between drugs and adjuvants. Aiming at studying the behavior of a plant extract and its mixture with adjuvants, using these thermoanalytical techniques the plant species Heliotropium indicum L. was used. This plant which is originally from India and has been well acclimatized in Brazil has healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The methodology for obtaining the extract followed the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia methodology. And the incorporation of the extract with adjuvants was through binary mixtures (1:1 w/w). The TG and DSC curves were obtained under nitrogen atmosphere (25 mL min^?1) at a heating rate of 5 °C min^?1; TG tests were analyzed within a temperature range from 25 to 600 °C and DSC from 25 to 300 °C. The TG curves show good thermal stability of the extract and its mixtures with adjuvants up to 150 °C, except the propylene glycol (PLG). The DSC curves revealed an incompatibility of the extract with methylparaben and PLG mixture.     

Study on the kinetics and reactivity at the ignition temperature of Jurassic coal in North Shaanxi

Thermal analysis of seven Jurassic coal samples from North Shaanxi in West China and three permo-carboniferous coal samples from East China was studied to identify ignition temperatures in the process of the oxidation and spontaneous combustion. The experiments were carried out under non-isothermal heating conditions up to 700 °C at the heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1 in an air atmosphere. Through the FTIR spectrometer experiments, the absorbance peaks of functional groups of coal samples were analyzed at the ignition temperatures, pre-ignition of the 10 °C, post-ignition of the 10 °C at the heating rate of 10 °C min^?1. By the differential spectrum method, the changes of functional groups were discussed with the aim to determine characteristics and reactivity of the ignition temperature around. The results showed that ignition temperatures of experimental coal samples increased with the rising heating rates, and ignition temperatures of Jurassic coals were lower than that of the permo-carboniferous coal samples at the same heating rate. Apparent activation energy of experimental Jurassic coals at the ignition temperatures was calculated by Ozawa method based on the non-isothermal and differential heating rates, ranging from 80 to 105 kJ mol^?1, which were lower than that of the eastern permo-carboniferous samples. On the basis of Pearson correlation coefficient method which can signify the degree of correlations ranging from ?1 to 1, the correlation analyses were conducted between activation energy and functional groups variation within 10 °C before and after ignition temperature. It was concluded that the key functional groups of Jurassic coals in the oxidation and ignition reaction were methyl and alkyl ether within 10 °C before ignition temperature, and carboxyl and carbonyl within 10 °C after ignition temperature.     

Thermal analysis kinetics of thermal decomposition of nickel–viscose composite fiber

In this study, the thermal decompositions of nickel composite fibers (NCF) under different atmospheres of flowing nitrogen and air were investigated by XRD, SEM–EDS, and TG–DTG techniques. Non-isothermal studies indicated that only one mass loss stage occurred over the temperature regions of 298–1,073 K in nitrogen. The mass loss was from the decomposition. But after this decomposition, nickel was oxidized in air, when the temperature was high enough. In nitrogen media, the model-free kinetic analysis method was applied to calculate the apparent activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factor (A). The method combining Satava–?esták equation with one TG curve was used to select the suitable mechanism functions from 30 typical kinetic models. Furthermore, the Coats–Redfern method was used to study the NCF decomposition kinetics. The study results showed that the decomposition of NCF in nitrogen media was controlled by three-dimension diffusion; mechanism function was the anti-Jander equation, the apparent activation energy (E _a) and the pre-exponential factor (A) were 172.3 kJ mol^?1 and 2.16 × 10⁹ s^?1, respectively. The kinetic equation could be expressed as following: $$ \frac{{{\text{d}}\alpha }}{{{\text{d}}T}} = \frac{{ 2. 1 6\times 1 0^{ 9} }}{\beta }{ \exp }\left( {\frac{ - 2 0 7 2 4. 1}{T}} \right)\left\{ {\frac{ 3}{ 2}(1 + \alpha )^{2/3} [(1 + \alpha )^{1/3} - 1]^{ - 1} } \right\}. $$      

Thermal properties and kinetics of new-generation posterior bulk fill composite cured light-emitting diodes

In this study, the thermal behavior in terms of glass transition (T _g), degradation, and thermal stability of four commercial new-generation posterior bulk fill composites (Surefill SDR, Dentsply; Quixfill, Dentsply; Xtrabase, Voco; and Xtrafill, Voco) activated by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The activation energies (E _a) for the decomposition of the dental resins were calculated based on the Kissinger and Doyle kinetic models from the peaks of the endothermic curves obtained when the specimens were heated at four different temperatures (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) during DSC. The results show that the Xtrabase composite displayed the highest T _g (120 °C at a 5 °C min^?1 heating rate) and E _a (157.64 kJ mol^?1) values associated with thermal degradation from the main chain of the polymer.     

Effect of oxygen concentration and temperature on ignition time of polypropylene

The presented article deals with the assessment of combined impact of temperature and flow of oxidising atmosphere, its oxygen concentration and heat flux on the ignition time of isotactic polypropylene (PP). The ignition time was determined in a specially adapted hot air Setchkin furnace at temperatures (450 and 600?°C), density of heat flux (12.4 and?26.4?kW m^?2), flows of oxidation mixture (6 and 8?L?min^?1) and volume oxygen concentrations (3, 9, 15, 21, 27, 33, 39, 45 and 50?%). Obtained data allows us to assume that the temperature influence on PP induction period of ignition increases with decreasing flow rate of oxidising atmosphere. At the flow of oxidising mixture equal to 6?L?min^?1 and temperature of 600?°C, oxygen concentration had only a negligible impact on the the induction period of ignition in the analysed period. From the presented results, the induction period of ignition depends on the temperature and also on the flow rate of oxidising mixture and oxygen concentration in it. In addition, heat flux has a significant influence on the induction period. However, the quantification of the heat flux influence was not possible with the applied experimental device.     

Thermal characteristics of the combustion process of biomass and sewage sludge

The combustion of two kinds of biomass and sewage sludge was studied. The biomass fuels were wood biomass (pellets) and agriculture biomass (oat). The sewage sludge came from waste water treatment plant. The biomass and sludge percentage in blends with coal were 10 %. The studied materials were characterised in terms of their proximate and ultimate analysis and calorific value. The composition of the ash of the studied fuels was also carried out. The behaviour of studied fuels was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTG and DTA). The samples were heated from an ambient temperature up to 1,000 °C at a constant three rates: 10, 40 and 100 °C min^?1 in 40 mL min^?1 air flow. TG, DTG and DTA analysis showed differences between coal, biomass fuels and sewage sludge. 10 % addition of studied fuels to the mixture with coal changed its combustion profile in the case of sewage sludge addition. The combustion characteristics of fuel mixtures showed, respectively, qualitative summarise behaviour based on single fuels. Evolved gaseous products from the decomposition of studied samples were identified. This study showed that thermogravimetric analysis connected with mass spectrometry is useful techniques to investigate the combustion and co-combustion of biomass fuels, and sewage sludge, together with coal. Non-isothermal kinetic analysis was used to evaluate the Arrhenius activation energy and the pre-exponential factor. The kinetic parameters were calculated using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose model.     

Investigation on the reaction of iron powder mixture as a portable heat source for thermoelectric power generators

This paper reports our investigation on the thermal behavior and ignition characteristics of iron powder and mixtures of iron with other materials such as activated carbon and sodium chloride in which iron is the main ingredient used as fuel. Thermal analysis techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the materials and for further understanding of reaction kinetics of the pyrophoric iron mixtures. The experimental results demonstrated that iron micron particles react exothermically to the oxygen in atmosphere and produced iron oxide with ignition temperature of 427.87 °C and heat generation of 4,844 J g^?1. However, in this study, the pyrophoric iron mixture acts as a heat source for the thermoelectric power generators, the final mixture composition is determined to compose of iron powder, activated carbon, and sodium chloride with the mass ratio of approximately 5/1/1. The mixture generated two exothermic peaks DSC curves that showed ignition temperature of 431.53 and 554.85 °C and with a higher heat generation of 9,366 J g^?1 at higher temperature. The effects of test pan materials and heating rate on the ignition were also examined by DSC method. Kinetic data such as the activation energy (E _a), the entropy of activation (ΔS ^# ), enthalpy of activation (ΔH ^# ), and Gibbs energy of activation (ΔG ^# ) on the ignition processes was also derived from the DSC analysis. From the ignition temperature, heat generation, and kinetics test data, the mass ratio of 5/1/1 proved to generate the most amount of heat with high temperatures for the standalone thermoelectric power generators.     

Experimental and kinetic investigation of the pyrolysis,combustion, and gasification of deoiled asphalt

The pyrolysis, combustion, and gasification behaviors of deoiled asphalt were studied by a thermogravimetric analyzer and the kinetics were also analyzed using a multi-stage first-order integral model. All the experiments were conducted at non-isothermal conditions with heating rates range of 10–40 K min^?1 under N₂ (pyrolysis), air (combustion), or CO₂ (gasification) atmosphere, respectively. The results showed that, for pyrolysis, the reaction mainly occurred between 498 and 798 K and could be divided into two stages: the first was caused by the volatilization of small molecules and the second probably due to the cracking reactions. For combustion, the mass loss process could be divided into three stages: the devolatilization and oxidation first, the ignition and combustion of the volatiles second, and finally the combustion of the formed char. Under CO₂ atmosphere, the mass loss behavior was similar with that of the N₂ atmosphere at lower temperatures, but when the temperature was higher than 1,233 K, the gasification reaction obviously happened. The results of kinetic investigation showed that the multi-stage first-order integral method agreed well with the above experiments.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of PET/SWCNTs nanocomposites prepared by the in situ polymerization

The decomposition and thermal behavior of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites were studied using thermogravimetric (TG) analysis in air atmosphere. A series of PET/single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) materials of varying nanoparticles concentration were prepared using the in situ polymerization technique. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy micrographs verified that the dispersion of the SWCNTs in the PET matrix was homogeneous, while some relatively small aggregates co-existed at higher filler concentration. Two-stage decomposition was observed in the experiments. During first stage, strong chemical bonds are broken, i.e., aliphatic bonds and benzyl ring containing molecules decompose into small molecules in the gaseous phase. During second stage, when temperature is higher, the remaining nanotubes along with the residues of the first stage are burned. Kissinger and Coats–Redfern (5, 10, 20, 50 K min^?1) methods were applied to TG data to obtain kinetic parameters (activation energy, Arrhenius constant at 600 K and A factor) and Criado method to kinetics model analysis. In this kinetic model, energy activation is increasing with the increase of nanotubes concentration.     

Thermal decomposition of sodium propoxides

Sodium alkoxides, namely, sodium n-propoxide and sodium iso-propoxide were synthesized and characterized by various analytical techniques. Thermal decomposition of these compounds was studied under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions using a thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with mass spectrometer. The onset temperatures of decomposition of sodium n-propoxide and sodium iso-propoxide were found to be 590 and 545 K, respectively. These sodium alkoxides form gaseous products of saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and leave sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and free carbon as the decomposition residue. Activation energy, E _a, and pre-exponential factor, A, for the decomposition reactions were deduced from the TG data by model-free (iso-conversion) method. The E _a for the decomposition of sodium n-propoxide and sodium iso-propoxide, derived from isothermal experiments are 162.2 ± 3.1 and 141.7 ± 5.3 kJ mol^?1, respectively. The values obtained from the non-isothermal experiments are 147.7 ± 6.8 and 133.6 ± 4.1 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for the decomposition of sodium n-propoxide and sodium iso-propoxide.     

Thermogravimetry study of the pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of macro-algae Macrocystis pyrifera residue

Macrocystis pyrifera is one important marine macro-algae, while its residues produced by industrial alginate extraction is a hot potato. To figure out whether its residue is suitable for pyrolysis for biofuel, the pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of macro-algae M. pyrifera residue was investigated using thermogravimetric method from 50 to 800 °C in an inert argon atmosphere at different heating rates of 5, 10, 20, and 30 °C min^?1. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor was calculated by Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, and Popescu methods, and the kinetic mechanism was deduced by Popescu method. The results showed that the primary devolatilization stage of M. pyrifera residue can be described by Jander function $ \left(\left[ {1 - \left( {1 - \alpha } \right)^{1/3} } \right]^{2}\right) $ . The average activation energy of M. pyrifera residue was 222.4 kJ mol^?1. The results suggested that the experimental results and kinetic parameters provided useful information for the design of pyrolytic processing system using M. pyrifera residue as feedstock.     

Thermogravimetry study of pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of the giant wetland plant Phragmites australis

The pyrolytic characteristics and kinetics of wetland plant Phragmites australis was investigated using thermogravimetric method from 50 to 800?°C in an inert argon atmosphere at different heating rates of 5, 10, 25, 30, and 50?°C?min^?1. The kinetic parameters of activation energy and frequency factor were deduced by appropriate methods. The results showed that three stages appeared in the thermal degradation process. The most probable mechanism functions were described, and the average apparent activation energy was deduced as 291.8?kJ?mol^?1, and corresponding pre-exponential factors were determined as well. The results suggested that the most probable reaction mechanisms could be described by different models within different temperature ranges. It showed that the apparent activation energies and the corresponding pre-exponential factors could be obtained at different conversion rates. The results suggested that the experimental results and kinetic parameters provided useful information for the design of pyrolytic processing system using P. australis as feedstock.     

Model-free kinetics applied to the vaporization of caprylic acid

The evaporation of octanoic (caprylic) acid was investigated by means of thermogravimetric analysis (temperature range: 300–600 K) under a nitrogen dynamic atmosphere (heating rates: 0.16, 0.31, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 K min^?1). Kinetic plots for a zero-order process were constructed based on the Arrhenius equation. The activation energy for the evaporation process was calculated via both the Arrhenius plot and Vyazovkin’s isoconversional model-free method.     

Studies on the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetic of drugs cetirizine and simvastatin

Understanding the response of drugs and their formulations to thermal stresses is an integral part of the development of stable medicinal products. In the present study, the thermal degradation of two drug samples (cetirizine and simvastatin) was determined by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and simultaneous thermogravimetery/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) techniques. The results of TG analysis revealed that the main thermal degradation for the cetirizine occurs during two temperature ranges of 165–227 and 247–402 °C. The TG/DTA analysis of simvastatin indicates that this drug melts (at about 143 °C) before it decomposes. The main thermal degradation for the simvastatin occurs during two endothermic behaviors in the temperature ranges of 238–308 and 308–414 °C. The influence of the heating rate (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) on the DSC behavior of both the drug samples was verified. The results showed that as the heating rate was increased, decomposition temperatures of the compounds were increased. Also, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor for the compounds were obtained from the DSC data by non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E696 and Ozawa. Based on the values of activation energy obtained by ASTM E696 method, the values of activation energy for cetirizine and simvastatin were 120.8 and 170.9 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Finally, the values of ΔS ^#, ΔH ^#, and ΔG ^# of their decomposition reaction were calculated.     

Thermal behavior of cashew gum by simultaneous TG/DTG/DSC-FT-IR and EDXRF

Cashew gum, an exudate polysaccharide from Anacardium occidentale L., was purified by alcohol precipitation. Thermal behavior of this polysaccharide was investigated by simultaneous TG/DTG/DSC-FT-IR analysis performed under nitrogen and air atmospheres and heating rate of 10 K min^?1. TG/DTG curves under oxidative atmosphere were similar to the curves under N₂ atmosphere until 340 °C, however, it was observed a profile difference due to the presence of two DTG peaks at 430 and 460 °C. DSC results showed endothermic and exothermic events corroborating with TG/DTG curves. The Simultaneous TG/DSC-FTIR analysis revealed that evolved gases from the decomposition of cashew gum sample were CO₂, CO, and groups: O–H, C–H, C=O, C–C, and C–O, in nitrogen and air atmospheres. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis from the ash showed that the elements in larger amounts are CaO, MgO, and K₂O.     

Comparative kinetics studies of thermal decomposition of kalium, respectively natrium oxalato-oxo-diperoxo molibdate

The aim of this paper is to present the comparative kinetics of thermal decomposition of K₂[MoO(O₂)₂(C₂O₄)] (kalium oxalato-oxo-diperoxo molibdate), respectively Na₂[MoO(O₂)₂(C₂O₄)] (natrium oxalato-oxo-diperoxo molibdate). The TG data were obtained at different heating rates: β = 2.5, 4, 5, and 10 °C min^?1 in air and nitrogen (50 mL min^?1), and the TG/DTG data were processed with the following methods: Friedman, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and modified-NPK method.