Thermal degradation of alkyl triphenyl phosphonium intercalated montmorillonites

The decomposition mechanism of intercalated montmorillonites at a particular temperature region and the activation energy involved in it are the two important aspects which determines the thermal stability of intercalated montmorillonites. In this study, montmorillonite was intercalated with alkyl (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and dodecyl) triphenyl phosphonium intercalates. Differential thermogravimetric analysis of each intercalated montmorillonites showed different peaks with associated organic loss at different temperature zone. Intercalated montmorillonites were subjected to isothermal kinetic analysis corresponding to selected temperature zone obtained from DTG peaks. Activation energies of organic decomposition process at selected temperature zones were determined. Mass spectral analysis and FTIR were done to understand the decomposition mechanisms and to relate them with the estimated activation energies.