THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF STYRENE-2,4-DINITROSTYRENE COPOLYMERS

The thermal degradation of styrene-2,4-dinitrostyrene copolymers (SDNS ) has been studied using differential thermal analysis (DTA) and therm ogravimetry (TGA) under isothermal and dynamic conditions in dynamic n itrogen. The apparent activation energy of the degradative process was determined following several methods of gravimetric analyses. The sta bility decreases as the mole fraction of dinitrostyrene in styrene-din itrostyrene copolymers increases. Fourier-transform infrared spectrosc opy has been used to analyze the degradation products at various degre es of conversion. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserv ed.