Studying chemical reaction rate using a difference algebraic converging method— A study on the thermal decomposition of poly-α-methyl styrene

Publication date: Available online 22 October 2019Source: Polymer Degradation and StabilityAuthor(s): Weiguo Sun, Yi Zhang, Jia Fu, Zhanwen Zhang, Weidong Wu, Yongjian TangAbstractA difference algebraic converging method for rate problem (DACMr) is proposed to study the rate function of a simple chemical reaction that is the function of activation energy and rate constant. The applications of this method to the thermal decomposition reactions of solid poly-α-methyl styrene (PαMS) indicate that: 1) All experimental thermal decomposition reaction rate functions W(T) are excellently reproduced using converged DACMr rate constant a(Np) and activation energy Ea. 2) The DACMr results can correctly generate the physical data of this thermal decomposition reaction in the reaction boundary region where experiments have difficulties. 3) The DACMr results correctly describe the observed data crossing between the rate functions of a greater PαMS molecule and that of a smaller one. 4) The DACMr method might be extended to study the rate problem of other simple chemical reactions.

Source: Polymer Degradation and Stability - October 23, 2019 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research