Kinetics of the Non-isothermal Degradation of POSS/EPDM Hybrids Composites

Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS)/Ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) composite, at 3% wt of POSS, is prepared by the evaporation of solvent (CHCl3) from polymer/filler system at room temperature and is investigated, by the means of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the obtained TGA data are treated by the Kissinger method to get the apparent activation energy (Ea) of degradation. The results obtained for the composites, at different levels of irradiation, are discussed and compared with each other and with those obtained for pristine EPDM. A good improvement of the thermal stability, with respect to the neat polymer, is found showing the effect of the POSS molecules on the degradation rate. A classification among the samples at different levels of radiations is also drawn up, showing also in this case, the beneficial effect of the POSSs presence.