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Thermal degradation of polystyrene
Author(s) -
Kishore K.,
Verneker V. R. Pai,
Nair M. N. R.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1976.070200906
Subject(s) - activation energy , differential scanning calorimetry , polystyrene , polymer , combustion , degradation (telecommunications) , propellant , enthalpy , polymer degradation , materials science , thermodynamics , kinetics , yield (engineering) , chemical engineering , thermal , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , telecommunications , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , engineering
The importance of the study of thermal degradation of polymeric fuels arises from their role in the combustion of solid propellants. Estimation of the condensed‐phase heat release during combustion can be facilitated by the knowledge of the enthalpy change associated with the polymer degradation process. Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to obtain enthalpy data. Kinetic studies on the polymeric degradation process have been carried out with the following objectives. The literature values of activation energies are quite diverse and differ from author to author. The present study has tried to locate possible reasons for the divergence in the reported activation energy values. A value of 30 kcal has been obtained and found to be independent of the technique employed. The present data on the kinetics support to chain‐end initiation and unzipping process. The activation energies are further found to be independent of the atmosphere in which the degradation of polymer fuel is carried out. The degradation in air, N 2 , and O 2 all yield a value of 30 kcal/mole for the activation energies.