An integral method of nonisothermal kinetic analysis

A new series solution for the constant heating rate Arrhenius integral is the basis of a method for determining the kinetic parameters of a single-step reaction from temperature scanning experiments. Isoconversion formulas are derived for calculating the Arrhenius activation energy and frequency factor of a reaction independent of the form of the rate law. Thermogravimetry data for pyrolysis of low density polyethylene and differential scanning calorimetry data for the phenylethynyl curing reaction were analyzed and activation energies were determined and found to agree with literature values. In contrast to existing integral methods, frequency factors for the pyrolysis and curing reaction were obtainable using the present approach without any assumptions about the reaction order or the form of the conversion function. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.