TG and DTG study of decomposition of commercial PUR cellular materials

Abstract

This article deals with study of thermal degradation of polymeric materials based on soft Polyurethane (PUR) foam by means of thermal and other analytical methods. Samples were of commercial grade PUR open cell foams (Gumotex, JSC, Břeclav, Czech Republic) and their decomposition (measured on Shimadzu TG/DTA instrument) was followed in the temperature range of +40 to +550°C in the dynamic atmosphere of nitrogen. Decomposition kinetics was followed at five different heating rates for one selected PUR sample. Experimental results were described by means of formal kinetic model and activation energy of decomposition process (Ea was evaluated. Ea for the decomposition of the polymer chains of studied PUR cellular material determined by the Kissinger method was found 169 kJ/mol (in the case of the first step of the obtained degradation pattern), for the total decomposition of the organic compound (second step) was found 169 kJ/mol. For better characterization of the studied materials FTIR spectra, optical microscopy and pore size distribution were determined for each sample under study. © MD Publications Pvt. Ltd.