SYNTHESIS AND THERMAL DEGRADATION STUDIES OF NOVEL AMINOTHIOPHENOL COPOLYMERS

Abstract

     The copolymer 2ATEF was synthesized by polycondensation of 2-aminothiophenol, ethylenediamine, and formaldehyde in a 2:1:3 molar ratio in the presence of hydrochloric acid as a catalyst at 126 °C for 5 h. The synthesized copolymer was characterized using elemental analysis and various physicochemical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and UV–Visible spectroscopy. Thermal degradation behavior and thermal stability of the copolymer were investigated using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) under non-isothermal conditions. The kinetic parameters of thermal degradation were evaluated using the Sharp–Wentworth and Freeman–Carroll methods, and the values of activation energy (Ea) obtained from both methods were found to be in close agreement. The low frequency factor and negative entropy values indicated that the thermal degradation process proceeds through a slow reaction mechanism. The copolymer 2ATEF exhibited good thermal stability, as evidenced by its decomposition at comparatively higher temperatures.