INVESTIGATION OF THE REACTION KINETICS WITHIN EXPANDABLE MIXTURES USED FOR PREPARING INJECTION-MOLDED POLYOLEFIN FOAMS

摘要

In this study, expandable polyolefin elastomer mixtures used for preparing cross-linked polyolefin foams were studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) to determine the reaction rate constants for azodicarbonamide (AZDC) decomposition. Activation energies and rate constants were computed from results obtained by variable heating rate DSC experiments. Predictions made from the kinetic equations were compared with results from isothermal aging experiments as well as observations made during injection molding of cross-linked foams.