Thermal stability and non‐isothermal kinetics of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) nanofibers

Abstract

A thermogravimetric study of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) nanofibers was carried out at five heating rates with a linear increase in the temperature in a nitrogen atmosphere. The data provided by the thermogravimetric study were used to evaluate the kinetics of the degradation process using three isoconversional methods. Considering that the kinetic parameters of the process depend on the reaction mechanism, various approaches were applied in order to determine the most probable mechanism function. In this respect, the mechanism of thermal degradation of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) is a phase boundary reaction with cylindrical symmetry (F 0.5 function) as demonstrated by the z(⊍) master plots method, iso-temperature method and isoconversional method. On their basis, the values of the kinetic triplet (E a , A and the shape of the most appropriate f(⊍) function) of the process were obtained, and subsequently the thermodynamic functions of the activated complex formation were calculated. The thermal stability of the polymer was predicted according to the integral procedure decomposition temperature.

Special Issue: Functional Polymers and Composites: From Synthesis to Applications (Dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Professor George S. Georgiev)

“…Ion‐imprinted polymers derived from Fe(II) compounds and functional polymers with hydroxyl or carboxylate groups and their ability to serve as efficient sorbents are described in the work by Dakova, Mitreva, and Karadjova 28 . Next, the fundamentals, i.e., kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism of degradation of polycyanoacrylate‐based nanofibers are studied by a research team led by Georgieva and Simeonova 29 . Durability of polymers is also the subject of the paper by Harrass, Mauer, and Tsekov 30 who report on the stability and mechanical properties of a polyamide‐glass fiber‐based composite materials in the presence of ethylene glycol‐containing cooling fluids.…”

“…28 Next, the fundamentals, i.e., kinetics, thermodynamics, and mechanism of degradation of polycyanoacrylatebased nanofibers are studied by a research team led by Georgieva and Simeonova. 29 Durability of polymers is also the subject of the paper by Harrass, Mauer, and Tsekov 30 who report on the stability and mechanical properties of a polyamide-glass fiber-based composite materials in the presence of ethylene glycol-containing cooling fluids.…”