Synthesis, characterization, and thermal degradation studies of copolymer resin derived from p-cresol, melamine, and formaldehyde

Copolymers (p-CMF) synthesized by the condensation of p-cresol and melamine with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst and using varied molar proportion of the reacting monomers. Copolymer resin compositions were determined on the basis of their elemental analysis. The number average molecular weight of these copolymers was determined by conductometric titration in nonaqueous media. Solution viscosity measurements in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were carried out to ascertain the characteristic functions and constants of the copolymer resins. The copolymer resins were further characterized by UV-visible absorption spectra in the nonaqueous medium, Infra-red (IR) spectra, and the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. Thermal studies of the resins were carried out to determine their mode of decomposition, the activation energy (E-a), order of reaction (n), frequency factor (Z), entropy change (Delta S), free energy change (Delta F), and apparent entropy change (S*). Thermal decomposition curves were discussed with careful attention of minute details. The Freeman-Carroll and Sharp-Wentworth methods have been used to calculate thermal activation energy and thermal stability. Thermal activation energy (E-a) calculated with these methods are in agreement with each other. The data from the Freeman-Carroll methods have been used to determine various thermodynamic parameters. The order of thermal stability of copolymers has been determined using TGA. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.