Pyrolysis kinetics and thermal decomposition behavior of polycarbonate - a TGA-FTIR study

This study covers the thermal degradation of polycarbonate by means of Thermogravimetric Analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TGA-FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis of polycarbonate was carried out at four different heating rates of 5, 10, 15, and 20°C per minute from 25°C to 1000°C under nitrogen atmosphere. The results indicated that polycarbonate was decomposed in the temperature range of 425-600°C. The kinetic parameters, such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor and reaction order were determined using five different kinetic models; namely Coast-Redfern, Friedman, Kissinger, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS). Overall decomposition reaction order was determined by Coats-Redfern method as 1.5. Average activation energy was calculated as 150.42, 230.76, 216.97, and 218.56 kJ/mol by using Kissinger, Friedman, FWO, and KAS models, respectively. Furthermore, the main gases released during the pyrolysis of polycarbonate were determined as CO2, CH4, CO, H2O, and other lower molecular weight hydrocarbons such as aldehydes, ketones and carbonyls by using thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer