Contributions to the thermal degradation mechanism under nitrogen atmosphere of PTFE by TG-FTIR analysis. Influence of the additive nature

The thermal behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) with glass, bronze and carbon as additives was studied under nitrogen atmosphere by the thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared analysis (TG-FTIR analysis) in comparison with the synthesized PTFE. The characteristic amounts from the TG-DTG-DTA analysis afforded the study of thermal stability giving also some information about the additive influence on the thermal degradation. The TG-FTIR analysis of the gaseous products evolved by thermal degradation of the samples under nitrogen atmosphere was applied for the first time with the additive-containing FIFE leading to results regarding both the obtaining of the monomer (C2F4) in view of its recovering, as well as the additive influence on the degradation mechanism and thus on the distribution of the degradation products as a matter insufficiently studied by now. The obtained results afforded the most probable degradation mechanism of PTFE to be advanced under the study's conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.