Thermal degradation study of poly(ethylene-co-methyl methacrylate) nanospheres synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization

The thermal stability and decomposition kinetics of poly(ethylene- co -methyl methacrylate) nanospheres synthesized via miniemulsion polymerization were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis under non-isothermal condition. Decomposition patterns of the copolymer spheres were varied depending on the ethylene feed pressure. The multivariate nonlinear regression analyses were performed to establish the degradation mechanisms, kinetic model, and the corresponding kinetic triplets. The activation energy for the decomposition of copolymers was determined by Friedman and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods and found to be in the range of 170–240 kJ mol −1 . The kinetic parameters as well as decomposition mechanism are dependent on composition of copolymer. The results revealed the changing mechanism with changed feed pressure, responsible for the decomposition of the copolymer.