Kinetic analysis and modelling of thermal degradation of perspex (PMMA) and perspex blend plastic waste

Abstract

The thermal decomposition of pure perspex and a mixture of 50% perspex and 50% poly(ethylene terephthalate; PET) was carried out between 295 and 325°C using a thermogravimetric analyser (TGA) in air and nitrogen (N2) atmosphere. The weight losses of decomposition products were measured during these experiments. The thermal degradation process is slower in inert atmosphere than air, where oxidation reaction expedites the decomposition process. Kinetic rate constants (k), pre‐exponential factor (A) and activation energy (E) for both pure prespex and a blend of perspex/PET were calculated for both air and N2 conditions. The thermal degradation process followed a third‐order reaction in air and second‐order in N2. A second‐order (n = 2) model for the pyrolytic process based on simultaneous reactions was developed using experimental data for pure and blend. The pyrolytic products are gases, liquids, waxes, aromatics and char, which can be ultimately used as raw material and fuel in various applications. It is important to note that the addition of PET to perspex was found to suppress/inhibit the decomposition of perspex compared with pure perspex. Pre‐exponential factor (A) and activation energy (E) values support such an observation. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering

The Effect of AlI3 Nanoadditive on the Thermal Behavior of PMMA Subjected to Thermoanalytical Py-GC-MS Technique

“…PMMA is also used for the welfare of mankind in the form of architecture, construction, automotive, transportation, lighting, electronics, photoelectricity, medical and healthcare, furniture, solar and nanotechnology applications, sensor application, and optical applications [8,9]. The annual production of PMMA plastics in Korea amounts to 100,000 tons [10]. PMMA has undergone combustion reactions giving the various volatile and nonvolatile products which cause environmental pollution [11].…”