Thermal Degradation Kinetics of some Aromatic Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether)s

Abstract

Poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole-ether)s containing isopropylidene, hexafluoroisopropylidene, cyclohexylidene, fluorene, phthalide or phenylquinoxaline groups have been prepared by nucleophilic substitution polymerization technique of 2,5-bis( p-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole with various aromatic bisphenols. The thermal decomposition behavior of the polymers was studied using thermogravimetric analysis in air, at several heating rates: 6, 10 and 14° C min . The polymers showed high thermo-oxidative stability with decomposition temperature corresponding to 5% weight loss above 380°C. The kinetic processing of data was carried out using the Coats—Redfern, Reich—Levi, Flyn—Wall and Kissinger methods.