Abstract
Thermal degradation and stabilization of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a molecular weight of 6000 have been investigated in order to develop PEG as a thermal energy storage material. Low molecular weight esters including formic esters were produced as the main products of the thermal degradation of PEG at 80 C in air. No degradation was observed for PEG aged in a vacuum. The mechanism of thermal degradation is found to be the random chain scission of the main chain. Thermal degradation could be suppressed by adding 2,2′-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol) (MBMTBP) as an antioxidant. In the stabilizing process. MBMTBP itself is transformed to dimers or trimers.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 317-323 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Polymer |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Degradation mechanism
- PEG 6000
- Phase change material
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Materials Chemistry