Thermal degradation process of the cured phenolic triazine thermoset resin (Primaset® PT-30). Part I. Systematic non-isothermal kinetic analysis

The non-isothermal degradation of the cured Primaset® PT-30 resin in nitrogen atmosphere was examined. It was found that the total mass loss of the sample strongly depends on the heating rate. Using different kinetic methods, the complete kinetic triplet of investigated process was performed. It was found that process can be successfully described by the following kinetic triplet: Ea = 193.8 kJ mol−1, A = 9.82 × 1010 min−1 and f(α) = (1 − α)3/2. Also, it was found that with single step reaction model (Fn-type) with n = 3/2, a complex and multi-step degradation process can be successfully approximated. Isothermal predictions of degradation were carried out at temperatures 400 °C, 420 °C and 450 °C. The observed disagreement between the prediction curves and experimental curves in terms of degradation lifetime at corresponding temperatures could lay in a very strong dependence of reaction system on the heating rate, which means on the temperature of degradation. It was concluded that due to high thermal resistance, Primaset® PT-30 resin needs more temperature to process it to produce parts for usage. The lifetime parameters indicate that the service/process temperature has a strong influence on the degradation process of the cured Primaset® PT-30 resin.