Effect of cross-linking on the thermal stability and molar mass distribution of paraffin waxes

摘要

The influence of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) (5, 10 and 15/100 by mass) on the structure and thermal properties of two different par- affin waxes was investigated. For both waxes an increase of gel content was observed for increasing DCP concentration. Gel per- meation chromatography, however, showed a decrease in intensity of the main peak, and the development of a lower molar mass peak. Differences were observed between the DSC curves for the untreated and treated samples, but these could not, with certainty, be linked to either cross-linking or degradation. TGA curves showed two well-developed decomposition steps for treated samples, which is in line with the development of a second peak in the GPC chromatogram.