- Author
-
Goldfarb, J. J.
|
Meeks, A. C.
- Title
- Thermal Degradation of Polyamides. Part 1. Aliphatic Polymers.
- Coporate
- Air Force Materials Lab., Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
- Report
-
AFML-TR-68-347, Pt.1
January 1969
94 p.
- Keywords
-
polymers
|
polyamides
|
thermal degradation
|
nylon
|
reaction kinetics
|
weight loss
- Abstract
- The thermal degradation of two aliphatic polyamides, polyhexamethylene adipamide (nylon 6.60 and polyhexamethylene sebacamide (nylon 6.10) have been studied. Molecular weight changes, weight loss, and volatile product analysis were used to help elucidate the reaction mechanisms. The presence of low molecular weight material and polymerizable and groups in these polymers complicated the interpretation of molecular weight changes during degradation. The weight loss data obtained allowed the calculation of rate data. Nylon 6.6 degradation gave an activation energy of 45 kcal/mole while nylon 6.10 degradation was characterized by an activation energy of 55 kcal/mole. Both polymers gave evidence of random scission kinetics. The volatile products were consistent with the occurrence of further condensation, scission, and cross-linking reactions.