NONISOTHERMAL THERMOGRAVIMETRY OF POLYMERS .5. BROMOMETHYLATED POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE OXIDE)

The model of weight loss taking place in each step of a scheme of cons ecutive reactions was applied to nonisothermal thermogravimetric recor ds of bromomethylated poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide). The rele ase of HBr was found to be faster in air than in nitrogen. A significa nt reduction in the apparent activation energy of dehydrobromination a s compared with decomposition of the nonbrominated polymer was ascribe d hot only to a reduction in the activation energy of the initiation r eaction, but also to an increase in the order of the termination react ion (from 1 for the nonbrominated polymer to 2 for the highly brominat ed polymer).