Recent Progress in Kinetics of Thermal Degradation Mechanisms in Polymer Composites

Abstract

This mini-review encompasses the most recent developments in the field of condensed phase kinetics with special emphasis on prediction of thermal degradation mechanisms in polymer composites. In this context, it initially reviews, in a brief way, the pre-existing reaction model determination approaches along with their advantages and disadvantages. Then, the advanced kinetic approach to reaction mechanisms, which takes into consideration the dependence of activation energy of system on degree of reaction progress, is detailed. Some of the important applications of the advanced kinetic approach on complicated thermal degradation mechanisms in epoxy and (particularly in) urea-formaldehyde cellulose (UFC) composites filled with metal particles are also discussed. The soundness of the advanced kinetic approach in predicting the thermal degradation mechanisms of polymer composites and its future applications are also taken into consideration.