A Case Study of Polyetheretherketone (II): Playing with Oxygen Concentration and Modeling Thermal Decomposition of a High-Performance Material

Kinetic decomposition models for the thermal decomposition of a high-performance polymeric material (polyetheretherketone, PEEK) were determined from specific techniques. Experimental data from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and previously elucidated decomposition mechanisms were combined with a numerical simulating tool to establish a comprehensive kinetic model for the decomposition of PEEK under three atmospheres: nitrogen, 2% oxygen, and synthetic air. Multistepped kinetic models with subsequent and competitive reactions were established by taking into consideration the different types of reactions that may occur during the thermal decomposition of the material (chain scission, thermo-oxidation, char formation). The decomposition products and decomposition mechanism of PEEK which were established in our previous report allowed for the elucidation of the kinetic decomposition models. A three-stepped kinetic thermal decomposition pathway was a good fit to model the thermal decomposition of PEEK under nitrogen. The kinetic model involved an autocatalytic type of reaction followed by competitive and successive nth order reactions. Such types of models were set up for the evaluation of the kinetics of the thermal decomposition of PEEK under 2% oxygen and in air, leading to models with satisfactory fidelity.