Application of Kissinger analysis to glass transition and study of thermal degradation kinetics of phenolic–acrylic IPNs

Degradation kinetics of sequential IPNs, based on novolac resin and poly (2-ethyl hexyl acrylate), are studied at linear heating rates of 2°C/min, 5°C/min, 10°C/min and 20°C/min by thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). Activation energy (E _a and order (n) of thermal decomposition reaction for IPNs and pure phenolic resin are evaluated from TGA curves using differential method of Freeman and Carroll. Decrease in T _g with an increase of acrylate content in IPNs are seen. Lower activation energy (E _a′), as calculated by applying Kissinger equation, for the concerned transition of IPNs, compared to that of pure phenolic resin is quite evident from DSC study.