Thermal Degradation, Kinetic Analysis and Char Formation in the Pyrolysis of Poly(melamine-co-phenolic resin) Copolymer

Understanding the mechanism of thermal degradation of a material may suggest a promising way for further improving its thermal properties. poly(melamine-co-phenolic resin) (P(M-co-PR)) has been widely used in flame resistant and fire-proof materials. Our characterization of the thermal degradation of P(M-co-PR) is described in this work. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were used to investigate the structural evolution during the thermal degradation of the copolymer. The evolutions of C = N and C-N bonding in heteroaromatic rings were monitored during the degradation process by C1s and N1s XPS spectra. The degradation processes of P(M-co-PR) is divided into three stages. The degradation kinetics of P(M-co-PR) was researched by using the Ozawa and Kissinger activation energy equation methods. The conclusion is that the Kissinger equation applied to the first stage, and the Ozawa equation applied to the second and third stages.