Abstract
Thermal degradation and solid-state polymerization of poly-trans-4-γ-propoxycyclohexyl amide (PPCA) were investigated. From the results of thermal gravimetric analysis with the multiple heating rates method, the activation energy for thermal degradation reaction of PPCA was found to be 53.7kcal/mole, and this value was essentially identical with that obtained from the investigation at the constant temperatures between 340 and 380°C (51.7kcal/mole; in vacuo, 48.1kcal/mole, in N2). The small value of activation energy (37.7kcal/mole) for a first stage of degradation suggests that PPCA is thermally unstable.
The activation energy for solid-state polymerization of PPCA at the temperature from 170 to 230°C was found to be a small value 10.7kcal/mole, this indicates a high mobility of polymer chain at this temperature range. The results are in good agreement with the consideration being described in the previous paper for relationship between the high value of Tg/Tm (0.73, °K/°K) and the chemical structure of PPCA.
