Co-pyrolysis Polystyrene/Fir: Pyrolysis Characteristics and Pyrolysis Kinetic Studies

Thermal gravimetric analysis (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) experiments were used to investigate the thermal decomposition characteristics and kinetics of polystyrene and polystyrene/fir, which are of potential interests for the development of renewable energy. The results show polystyrene takes place only one step weight loss, while polystyrene/fir takes place two-step weight loss. The thermal decomposition peak temperature of polystyrene shifts to higher temperature in the presence of fir, but the main reaction temperature range of polystyrene becomes narrow. The kinetic behaviors were investigated under different heating rates by using Kissinger method and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The activation energy of polystyrene is larger than that of polystyrene/fir. This can explain that fir promotes the decomposition of polystyrene. The experimental results and kinetic parameters may provide useful data for the design of co-pyrolytic processing of polystyrene/fir.