Correlation between polystyrene molecular weights and a characteristic temperature derived from the thermogravimetric weight loss curves

A characteristic temperature was derived from the weight loss curves following the thermal decomposition of polystyrenes. The average molecular weights of the polystyrenes were found to be directly related to this temperature. The thermal decomposition patterns of polystyrenes were fitted to a first-order kinetic model. The kinetic parameters obtained (energy of activation and frequency factor) were also found to be functionally dependent on the initial average molecular weight.