Effect of graphite on thermal degradation kinetics of poly(benzyl methacrylate-co-styrene)
Abstract
In this study, poly(benzyl methacrylate0.33-co- styrene) P(BzMA0.33-co-St) copolymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization at 65 0C in the presence of BPO initiator in 1,4-dioxane solvent. The structure of the copolymer was characterized by FT-IR and 1H-NMR techniques. Composites of the synthesized P(BzMA0.33-co-St) copolymer with graphite at 1 wt%, 5 wt%, and 10 wt% were prepared by a solvent casting technique. A comparative study of the glass transition temperatures and thermal stability of copolymers and composites was carried out using a simultaneous TGA-DTA system. The glass transition temperature of the pure copolymer was determined to be 88 oC, while the composites' glass transition temperatures were between 82 and 87 oC. The thermal degradation kinetics of P(BzMA0.33-co-St) copolymer and P(BzMA0.33-co-St)/G 10 wt% composite were investigated and the average activation energies were determined by FWO and KAS methods. While the activation energy of P(BzMA0.33-co-St) copolymer was determined as 148.898 and 146.431 kJ/mol according to FWO and KAS methods, this value was determined as 186.545 and 185.668 kJ/mol for P(BzMA0.33-co-St)/G 10 wt% composite, respectively.
