Evaluation of kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric curves: Part I. Combined numerical method

A new method is proposed to evaluate kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric traces. The method consists of two steps, α, T and dα/dT values are first employed to estimate kinetic parameters by linear least squares fitting, using the five types of mechanism for solid phase reactions suggested by ?esták. From the different sets of parameters thus obtained, the most probable mechanism type is decided. The resultant parameters for the chosen type of mechanism may further be improved by differential correction method, if necessary, using the more accurate data of α and T. The proposed method was tested with artificial data and the data for the thermal dehydration of gypsum by ?esták et al. The results were very satisfactory.