Influence of sample preparation on thermal decomposition of wasted polyolefins-oil mixtures

Significant influence of sample preparation on thermal decomposition of polyolefin-technological oil mixtures was proved during tests. Samples of polymer-oil mixtures were prepared with two methods: reducing size and components mixing and soaking in temperature 170°C. Soaking causes decreasing thermal stability of the charge. This fact manifests itself in decreasing of thermal decomposition temperature in laboratory scale, as well as in change of characteristic decomposition temperatures during thermogravimetric analyses. Data analysis was performed with the use of classic method based on Arrhenius kinetic equation and three-parameter model. The influence of sample composition and preparation method on values of three-parameter equation coefficients was observed.