Structural effects on the decomposition kinetics of EPDM elastomers by high-resolution TGA and modulated TGA

Effects of ethylene content and maleated EPDM content on the thermal stabil ity and degradation kinetics of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) hav e been studied using high resolution thermogravimetric analysis (Hi-Res TGA ) and Modulated TGA (MTGA). Modulated TGA shows that EPDM degradation is co mplex, with activation energy of degradation increasing throughout the degr adation. Values from both dynamic and constant heating rate experiments are in good agreement with each other and with the literature value. However, the dynamic heating rate experiment shows that if the difference of peak te mperature of components in a system is less than 5 degrees C, Hi-Res TGA do es not resolve them.