COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE INTEGRAL-TG METHODS USED IN THE INVARIANT KINETIC PARAMETER METHOD - APPLICATION TO THE FIRE-RETARDANT POLYPROPYLENE

the computation of invariant kinetic parameters : activation energy an d preexponential factor, from thermogravimetric analyses is carried ou t using three integral methods. It allows to test the probability of d ifferent kinetic functions. In the case of an intumescent polypropylen e based formulation, eighteen degradation functions are compared. It i s shown that the formation of the intumescent material cannot be descr ibed by one single mode of degradation. It is proposed that the intera ction polymer matrix - additives creates a new material presenting fir e-retardancy properties.