Comparison of Pyrolysis Kinetics Between Rigid and Flexible Polyurethanes

Comparison of Pyrolysis Kinetics Between Rigid and Flexible Polyurethanes

The pyrolysis kinetics of rigid and flexible polyurethane were examined using thermogravimetric analysis. During the experiment, some of the main compounds were detected. Rigid polyurethane produced five types of low molecular weight organic products, and flexible polyurethane produced at least eleven types of low molecular weight organic products. The main decomposition range of rigid polyurethane took place between 200 and 410 oC, and flexible polyurethane between 150 and 500 oC. A consecutive kinetic model for the pyrolysis of polyurethanes is proposed. The model was able to simulate the experimental curves with good agreement. Using this kinetic model, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor and reaction order could be determined. The average activation energy of flexible polyurethane was 203.1 KJ/mol, which is almost 1.59 times higher than that of rigid polyurethane, 127.7 KJ/mol.

The pyrolysis kinetics of rigid and flexible polyurethane were examined using thermogravimetric analysis. During the experiment, some of the main compounds were detected. Rigid polyurethane produced five types of low molecular weight organic products, and flexible polyurethane produced at least eleven types of low molecular weight organic products. The main decomposition range of rigid polyurethane took place between 200 and 410 oC, and flexible polyurethane between 150 and 500 oC. A consecutive kinetic model for the pyrolysis of polyurethanes is proposed. The model was able to simulate the experimental curves with good agreement. Using this kinetic model, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy, frequency factor and reaction order could be determined. The average activation energy of flexible polyurethane was 203.1 KJ/mol, which is almost 1.59 times higher than that of rigid polyurethane, 127.7 KJ/mol.