Controlled Rate Thermogravimetry: New usefulness of controlled rate thermogravimetry revealed by decomposition of polyimide

Abstract

Curves obtained by controlled rate TG of polyimide film in air are quite different from those obtained by conventional constant rate heating TG. A two step mass loss was observed during the constant rate heating TG, while mass loss proceeded as a single step process in the controlled rate TG. To elucidate the cause for this difference, kinetic analysis was made, and it was found that the reaction mechanism in a lower temperature range is different from those in a higher temperature range. The lower temperature decomposition is a single step process, and the higher temperature decomposition is a two-step process. The reason for the difference is that only the low temperature single step process is observed in the controlled rate TG, while both reactions are observed in the constant heating rate TG along with the temperature increase. This speculation was confirmed by isothermal TG. These facts show us another usefulness of controlled rate TG. To analyze the three types of TG data together, the Friedman—Ozawa method was used, and it is demonstrated to be the most appropriate and reliable.