Thermal degradation of mixtures of polycaprolactone with cellulose derivatives

Thermal degradation processes for a series of mixtures based on polycaprolactone (PCL), with microcrystalline cellulose (MC) and sisal fiber (SF) powder, were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), in order to predict the thermal behaviour of biodegradable matrixes reinforced with cellulose derivatives. The maximum degradation temperature of each component in the mixture was higher than those of the individual components; thus an increase in thermal stability was expected. Apparent activation energies were obtained from Friedman isoconversional plots. Mixtures were considered as multistage processes. Predicted apparent activation energies agreed well with the increment in thermal stability due to the presence of the co-components. This effect was associated with either, solid-solid or solid-gas interactions between cellulose derivatives and PCL during thermal degradation. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.