Thermal decomposition kinetics of photooxidized nylon 66

Abstract The thermoanalytical method offers a convenient means for testing a starting material before the end application. Differences in the kinetic parameters between neat and irradiated nylon 66 samples were estimated in the temperature range of 25°C–800°C by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and in the range of 25°C–300°C by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Under nitrogen flux the average activation energy for decomposition was in the range of 12.2–26.9 kcal/mol for the neat sample and 15.7–33.1 kcal/mol for the irradiated sample (250 h). Activation energy is affected by the process of bond breaking at the CN bonds, which is the rate‐determining step of the decomposition in nylon 66. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 2146–2150, 2003