STUDIES ON THE THERMAL-PROPERTIES OF POLY(PHENYLENE SULFIDE AMIDE)

Thermal properties of poly(phenylene sulfide amide) (PPSA) prepared us ing sodium sulfide, sulfur, and thiourea as sulfur sources which react ed with dichloro-benzamide (DCBA) and alkali in polar organic solvent at the atmospheric pressure, were studied. The glass transition temper ature (T-g), melting point temperature (T-m), and melting enthalpy (De lta H-m) of the related polymers were obtained by use of differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results are: T-g = 103.4-104.5 degr ees C, T-m = 291.5-304.7 degrees C, and Delta H-m = 104.4-115.4 J/g. T hermal properties such as thermal decomposition temperature and decomp osition kinetics were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis under nitrogen. The initial and maximum rate temperatures of degradation we re found to be 401.5-411.7 degrees C and 437-477 degrees C, respective ly. The parameters of thermal decomposition kinetics of PPSAs were wor ked out to be: activation energy of degradation was 135 to 148 kJ/mol and the 60-s half-life temperature was 360 to 371 degrees C. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.