Thermo-oxidative Degradation of Rubber Plastic Sponge by TGA-FTIR

Thermo-oxidative degradation of rubber plastic sponge in air was studied by thermogravimetric analysis combined with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA-FTIR). The weight loss of rubber plastic sponge at 3 different heating rates was investigated and the evolved gases were analyzed. The rubber plastic sponge showed two stages of weight loss. The weight loss rates and the temperature of maximum weight loss rates increased with the increasing of heating rate. The first stage corresponded to the thermo-oxidative degradation of the functional groups of NBR and PVC, and the evolved gases were cyanic acid and HCl. The second stage corresponded to thermo-oxidative degradation of the carbon chains, and the evolved gas was mainly CO2.