Elucidation of Thermal Degradation Model for Low and High Density Polyethylene by Statistical Parameters

Solid state decomposition studies of Low and High Density Polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) have been carried out in the present work. Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) is utilized to determine the degradation kinetics for pure plastic samples at different heating rates. The distribution of activation energy values and rates estimated using various Iso-conversional methods have been selected on basis of correlation coefficients. For LDPE, isoconversional method of Friedman and for HDPE Flynn Wall Ozawa methods are used to estimate the distribution of activation energies having their mean values as 256.5 and 257.2 kJ/mol respectively. The inputs from Isoconversional methods are used to determine decomposition behavior with Criado method. Model based studies performed with Criado method identifies the solid-state degradation follows contracting volume-sphere (R3) model based on lower statistical parameter values. The identified decomposition model is validated by Coats Redfern method which also results in lower statistical parameter values. This is further validated through a best fit of extent of reaction profile against temperature, substantiating the solid-state decomposition model followed by given plastic fractions.