A Promising Energetic Polymer from Posidonia oceanica Brown Algae: Synthesis, Characterization, and Kinetic Modeling

Abstract

In this study, microcrystalline cellulose nitrate (MCCN) as energetic polymer is successfully obtained from Posidonia oceanica brown algae (POBA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results show alterations in the intensities of some absorption bands, suggesting a significant difference in the chemical structure between microcrystalline cellulose and the emergent MCCN samples. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicate that MCCNs are more crystalline than conventional nitrocellulose (NC). According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), both NC and MCCN reveal a compact structure and a rough surface. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) displays that the thermal degradation of MCCNs shifts to lower temperatures compared to the respective NCs. Furthermore, in comparison with NC samples, MCCN samples exhibit high density, high nitrogen content, low viscosity‐average molecular weight, and good thermal stability. On the other hand, kinetic modeling based on DSC data is carried out by isoconversional integral methods to determine Arrhenius parameters and the decomposition mechanisms. It is found that MCCNs present lower activation energies than conventional NCs with a decrease of ≈6%. Finally, this work opens a new pathway to prepare MCCN from POBA, and it is expected to have applications in several areas such as propellants, energetic binders, and gas generators.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Hematite Nanoparticles Decorated on Carbon Mesospheres and Their Synergetic Action on the Thermal Decomposition of Nitrocellulose

“…Cellulose nitrate, known as nitrocellulose (NC), is one of a main components of gun powder and solid propellants [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. It has been widely investigated owing its thermal decomposition features, such as the decomposition temperature, activation energy, and reaction decomposition mechanism, notably influence the combustion behavior and/or performance characteristics of NC-based formulations [ 4 , 5 ].…”

Statistical Copolymers of N-Vinylpyrrolidone and Isobornyl Methacrylate via Free Radical and RAFT Polymerization: Monomer Reactivity Ratios, Thermal Properties, and Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition

“…Upon integrating Equation (30) the result is the following: where To and T are the initial and final temperatures of the reaction, respectively. g(α) is the integral conversion function and x = Eα/RT [ 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. As it is obvious, g(α) depends on the conversion mechanism and its mathematical model.…”

Non‐Isothermal Curing Kinetics of Alkali‐Treated Alfa Fibers/Polybenzoxazine Composites Using Differential Scanning Calorimetry

“…The average values of E α and LogA for all the isoconversional methods are displayed in Table . This constatation can be interpreted by the kinetic compensation effect . The CE parameters of TAS and VYA/CE methods are displayed in Table .…”