Thermal degradation
Polypedia > Defects in polymers
| Thermal degradation | ||
Solid polymeric materials undergo both physical changes and chemical changes when heat is applied; this usually changes the properties of the material undesirable. A clear distinction must be made between thermal decomposition and thermal degradation. Thermal decomposition is "a process of extensive chemical species. change caused by heat. Thermal degradation is "a process by which the action of heat or elevated temperature. in a material, product or assembly causes a loss of physical, mechanical or electrical properties. Thermal decomposition and thermal degradation In thermal degradation, thermal oxidation and thermal oxidative degradation, polymers play a fundamental role in the alkyd macroradicals (R *), alkoxide (RO *) and peroxide (RO2 *) and low molecular weight radicals (r *). The high reactivity of the past towards. The chain reaction of the oxidation of a polymer includes alternative steps of the chain propagation that is performed either within the same macromolecule or between two molecules. |  |