THERMOGRAVIMETRIC STUDIES OF METAL POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATES)

Abstract

The thermal stabilities of metal poly(methyl methacrylate)s (PMMA) have been studied by thermogravimetry (TG) between 25 and 550-degrees-C under nitrogen flow. The kinetic data thus obtained show that the thermostabilities decrease in the order, Au-PMMA > Bi-PMMA > In-PMMA > Cu-PMMA > Ge-PMMA > Sb-PMMA > Pd-PMMA > Sn-PMMA > Ga-PMMA, suggesting that thermal stability is dependent upon the metal incorporated in the backbone. The order of reaction for the thermal decomposition of these metal polymers was found to be zero. The pre-exponential factor, the reaction order and the activation energy of the decomposition for metal poly(methyl methacrylates) have been determined and the reactions found to be zero order.