Synthesis, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Kinetic Study of Poly-N-Isopropylacrylamide with Varied Initiator Content

Abstract

The thermal decomposition and kinetic parameters of four polymers, PN-1, PN-05, PN-01, and PN-005, were determined by thermogravimetry (TGA/DTG) under non-isothermal conditions. N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA)-based polymers were synthesized by the surfactant-free precipitation polymerization (SFPP) with different concentrations of the anionic initiator potassium persulphate (KPS). Thermogravimetric experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 25–700 °C at four heating rates, 5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min−1, under a nitrogen atmosphere. Poly NIPA (PNIPA) showed three stages of mass loss during the degradation process. The thermal stability of the test material was determined. Activation energy values were estimated using Ozawa, Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), and Friedman (FD) methods.