Study of the thermal degradation of poly(furfuryl methacrylate) by thermogravimetry

The thermal degradation of poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (PFM) has been studied by means of dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in the temperature range 100–600°C under nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres at various heating rates, and the apparent activation energy for the interval 230–340°C corresponding to the first degradation step was determined. Isothermal TGA at 250°C, 275°C and 300°C was carried out and the apparent activation energy values obtained were compared with those determined in dynamic experiments. The residues from isothermal degradation experiments were analysed by infrared spectroscopy and the results seem to indicate that in the thermal degradation of PFM the formation of cyclic structures of 2,4-dimethylglutaric anhydride occurs in the macromolecular chains, together with partial depolymerization of polymer segments, as well as intermolecular crosslinking through oxidation of the C---H bond in position 5 of some furfuryl rings.