THERMOGRAVIMETRIC STUDIES ON MISCIBLE BLENDS OF ETHYLENE METHYL ACRYLATE COPOLYMER (EMA) AND POLYDIMETYLSILOXANE RUBBER (PDMS)

Thermogravimetric and derivative thermogravimetric analysis of blends of ethylene-methyl acrylate copolymer and polydimethylsiloxane of different compositions have been investigated. Curves of weight loss and derivative weight loss against temperature show that degradation takes place in two steps with peak maxima, at T1max and T2max, both proportional to the components in the blends. Kinetic studies show that the degradation of the blends and that of the single components follow first order reaction kinetics. Activation energies of the degradation have been determined using Freeman and Carroll's method and the thermal stability of the blends has been investigated.