The thermal stability of sodium alginate (SA) and its graft copolymers
of acrylonitrile (AN), methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA) and
methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been examined in air atmosphere by means
of thermogravimetric analysis. The following order of decreasing stab
ility was found from characteristic decomposition temperatures: SA-g;P
AN > SA-g-PMA > SA-g-PEA > SA-g-PMMA. The overall thermal stability of
the different SA graft copolymers was evaluated by comparing their ac
tivation energies of thermal degradation; it agreed with the same orde
r of thermal stability.