Pyrolysis kinetics of rubber mixtures

The pyrolysis kinetics of a rubber mixture was investigated by a dynamic thermogravimetry reaction system at heating rates of 3, 5 and 7 K/min, in a nitrogen atmosphere, over the temperature range of 400 to 950 K. The results indicated that the pyrolytic reaction rates of rubber mixture can be represented by the summation of the corresponding reaction rates of the rubber components, based on their mass fractions. Satisfactory agreements between the proposed reaction model and the experimental results could be obtained. The results of this study are useful for the utilization of scrap rubber mixtures as an energy resource. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.