DEGRADATION OF CONTAMINATED PLASTICS - A KINETIC-STUDY

The thermal degradation of polypropylene (PP), polyacrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) have been studied in the presence of copper, iron oxide and dirt. The rate constants and kinetic parameters for the degradation processes have been measured using the variable heating rate isoconversion method. The results suggest that the presence of metal contamination in these polymer systems can influence the degradation behaviour of the pure polymers. Generally it was found that certain metal contaminants could have a catalytic effect on the degradation processes of the polymers studied. This effect resulted in an increase in the measured rate constants and a lower onset temperature of their degradation. The largest effects were noted with PP, where substantial increases in the rate constant were noted as well as significant differences in the apparent activation energies.