Mechanic properties and thermal degradation kinetics of terpolyrner poly(propylene cyclohexene carbonate)s

Poly(propylene cyclohexene carbonate)s (PPCHC) were synthesized from propylene oxide and cyclohexene oxide with carbon dioxide. Thermal behaviors of poly(propylene cyclohexene carbonate)s (PPCHC) with varying molecular weights were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The degradation activation energies were calculated using Ozawa method and the results were compared with poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC). It is found that the PPCHC exhibit better thermal stabilities and mechanic properties than PPC, while the degradation activation energies calculated by Ozawa method are lower than that of PPC for the incorporation of the bulky moiety of cyclohexene oxide into the poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC). (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.