TG-DTA/FT-IR method for analyzing thermal decomposition mechanism of polyesters

An attempt to estimate the thermal decomposition mechanism of polymers using the simultaneous TG-DTA/FT-IR system was summarized. The library search of FT-IR spectra at various temperatures and of the subtraction spectrum obtained by subtracting the spectra at different temperatures were used to determine the types of evolved gases from poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) at given stages of decomposition. The quantitative analysis of evolved gases was carried out using the specific gas profiles at the specific absorption band. The kinetic parameters were estimated from both TG and spectroscopic curves measured at various heating rates.