Thermal degradation mechanism and thermal life of PMMA/hydroxylated MWCNT nanocomposites

ABSTRACT

Polymethyl methacrylate/hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PMMA/MWCNT-OH) nanocomposites were prepared by solution blending by adding 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt-% MWCNT-OH. The thermal degradation mechanism and thermal life of PMMA/MWCNT-OH in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres were investigated in detail. When MWCNT-OH content was 3 wt-%, the maximum thermogray-weight temperature (T_m) was 11.5°C and 61.4°C higher than that of PMMA in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres. Three-dimensional diffusion reaction and level 1.5 chemical reaction in nitrogen atmosphere and one-dimensional diffusion reaction and level 1 chemical reaction chemical reaction in oxygen atmosphere by Achar method and Coats–Redfern method were the possible mechanisms of PMMA and PMMA/MWCNT-OH nanocomposites. When the weight loss rate of 30% was taken as the thermal life end point of the composites, the thermal life first increased and then decreased with the content of MWCNT-OH increased by Kissinger method and Dakin equation.

KEYWORDS:

• PMMA
• MWCNT-OH
• nanocomposites
• thermogravimetry
• nitrogen atmosphere
• oxygen atmosphere
• thermal degradation mechanism
• thermal life

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program Self-Funded Projects Science and Technology Program of Hebei Province (18211235).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program Self-Funded Projects of Hebei Province: [Grant Number 18211235].