The combined kinetic analysis implies a simultaneous analysis of experimental data representative of the forward solid-state reaction obtained under any experimental conditions. The analysis is based on the fact that when a solid-state reaction is described by a single activation energy, preexponetial factor and kinetic model, every experimental T-alpha-dalpha/dt triplet should fit the general differential equation independently of the experimental conditions used for recording such a triplet. Thus, only the correct kinetic model would fit all of the experimental data yielding a unique activation energy and preexponential factor. Nevertheless, a limitation of the method should be considered; thus, the proposed solid-state kinetic models have been derived by supposing ideal conditions, such as unique particle size and morphology. In real systems, deviations from such ideal conditions are expected, and therefore, experimental data might deviate from ideal equations. In this paper, we propose a modification in the combined kinetic analysis by using an empirical equation that fits every f(alpha) of the ideal kinetic models most extensively used in the literature and even their deviations produced by particle size distributions or heterogeneities in particle morphologies. The procedure here proposed allows the combined kinetic analysis of data obtained under any experimental conditions without any previous assumption about the kinetic model followed by the reaction. The procedure has been verified with simulated and experimental data.

A new deconvolution procedure ABSTRACT The kinetic analysis of complex solid state reactions that involve simultaneous overlapping processes is challenging. A method that involves the deconvolution of the individual processes from the overall differential kinetic curves obtained under linear heating rate conditions, followed by the kinetic analysis of the discrete processes using combined kinetic analysis is proposed. Different conventional mathematical fitting functions have been tested for deconvolution, paying special attention to the shape analysis of the kinetic curves. It has been shown than many conventional mathematical curves such as the Gaussian and Lorentzian ones fit inaccurately kinetic curves and the subsequent kinetic analysis yields incorrect kinetic parameters. Alternatively, other fitting functions such as the Fraser-Suzuki one properly fits the kinetic curves independently of the kinetic model followed by the reaction and their kinetic parameters, moreover the subsequent kinetic analysis yields the correct kinetic parameters. The method has been tested with the kinetic analysis of complex processes both simulated and experimental.

In this paper, a novel method for calculating degradation kinetics is presented. The method has been applied to the thermal dehydrochlorination of two different samples of PVC. It has been observed that this dehydrochlorination is complex and involves two different processes. A model that accounts for the entire dehydrochlorination is proposed. This model involves nucleation and growth and diffusion controlled mechanisms. The kinetic parameters are obtained from linear heating rate, isothermal and sample controlled thermal analysis experiments. Kinetic results obtained from the macroscopic thermal analysis measurements demonstrate the correlation between the kinetics of the thermal dehydrochlorination of PVC and the structure of this macromolecule.