Thermal degradation, kinetic and correlation models of poly(vinylidene fluoride–chlorotrifluoroetheylene) copolymers

In this paper, thermal degradation and degradation kinetic of a poly(vinylidene fluoride–chlorotrifluoroethylene) (poly(VDF–CFTE)) copolymers are investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) under non-isothermal conditions. Thermal degradation of poly(VDF–CFTE) copolymers namely FKM1, FKM2, FKM3 and FMK4 samples is carried out at different heating rate under nitrogen atmosphere. The activation energies of poly(VDF–CFTE) samples are calculated from Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Friedman kinetic methods. To investigate the kinetic model of thermal degradation for poly(VDF–CTFE) copolymers, Criado method is employed. The results showed that the probable model for the degradation of poly(VDF–CTFE) copolymers agreed with a power law and diffusion (D1) model. The activation energies of FKM1, FKM2, FKM3 and FKM4 samples are found to be 196, 197, 198 and 207 kJ mol−1, respectively.

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► Thermal degradation, kinetics and reaction model of poly(VDF–CTFE) copolymers was studied by thermogravimetry.
► Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose and Friedman kinetic methods were applied.
► The Criado method was employed for kinetic models.
► The probable degradation mechanism is agreed with a power law and diffusion models.