Thermal stability and degradation kinetic study of white and colored cotton fibers by thermogravimetric analysis

Thermal degradation behavior using thermogravimetry (TG), chemical composition and crystallinity by X-ray diffraction of white and naturally colored cotton fibers (ruby, beige, brown and green) were studied. Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method was used to investigate the thermal decomposition kinetics of the different fibers. The white cotton fiber has higher thermal stability and higher apparent activation energy (Ea) value compared to the colored fibers. There are no significant differences in initial temperature of degradation in air or in nitrogen atmosphere for the same type of fiber. Chemical composition and crystallinity influenced the thermal degradation behavior of the fibers studied.