Thermal decomposition kinetics and characterization of poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)/Cloisite 30B composites

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) was synthesized by KMnO 4 oxidation of 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF) derived from biomass. The poly(butylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate)/Cloisite 30B (PBF30B) composites were prepared by esterification and polycondensation of FDCA with 1,4-butane diol. PBF30B composites containing 1, 2, and 4 phrs Cloisite 30B were prepared. The FDCA and PBF30B composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The thermal decomposition kinetics of PBF 30B composites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under conditions of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 °C/min. The activation energies of PBF30B composites were investigated by Arrhenius regression, the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method, original Vyazovkin method and advanced iso-conversion method. From the standpoint of activation energy for the decomposition of PBF 30B composites, the different kinetic methods shared the same tendency. The Vyazovkin method yielded the maximum activation energies of PBF30B composites containing 1, 2, and 4 phrs Cloisite 30B which were 190, 140, and 160 kJ/mol, respectively.