Cellulose thermal decomposition

Use of a Concentrated Radiation for the Determination of Cellulose Thermal Decomposition Mechanisms... 

Fig. 3 Simplified cellulose thermal decomposition pathways at atmospheric pressure...

Milosavljevic I. and Suuberg E,M. (1995) Cellulose Thermal Decomposition Kinetics Global Mass Loss Kinetics. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 34, 1081-1091. 

Determination of the thermal decomposition temperature by thermal gravimetric analysis (tga) defines the upper limits of processing. The tga for cellulose triacetate is shown in Figure 11. Comparing the melt temperature (289°C) from the dsc in Figure 10 to the onset of decomposition in Figure 11 defines the processing temperature window at which the material can successfully be melt extmded or blended. 

Low levels of potassium iodide strongly retard the thermal decomposition of thin films of cellulose nitrate. 

Ramiah, M.V. and Goring, D.A.I. (1967). Some dilatomeric measurements of the thermal decomposition of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 1(3), 277-285. 

Cellulose shows the presence of a number of acetal bands (1155, 1105 and. 1025 cm-1) which disappear in test samples heated to higher temperatures (370°C or above). Similarly, a band characteristic of the bond C—O between carbon and hydroxyl group weakens with thermal decomposition and disappears at a temperature above 370°C. 

Later on the decomposition of cellulose at high temperature was examined by a number of authors. Most of the research was devoted to the problem of the origin of coal. The experiments of T. Urbanski at al. [50] using infra-red spectroscopic analysis for the examination of the products of thermal decomposition of cellulose are described in Vol. III. (Charcoal for blackpowder manufacture). 

Thermal decomposition of ammonium nitrate can also be facilitated by adding organic compounds. Thus, ammonium nitrate mixed with cellulose begins to decompose at 100°C and decomposition becomes distinctly perceptible at 120°C. Also salts of some organic bases (e.g. pyridine nitrate) considerably lower the temperature of decomposition of ammonium nitrate. 

Millett, Studies on the Thermal Decomposition of Cellulose Nitrate and Cellulose Nitrate Propellants, Forest Products Lab, Madison, Wisconsin(1957)(A literature survey from CA 1907 56) 237)M.A.Millett,"Stability Tests for Military Cellulose Nitrate and Cellulose Nitrate Propellants , FPL(1957)(A literature survey 1907-57) 238)M.A.Millettetal, "The Kinetics of Rapid High Temperature Stabilization of Cellulose Nitrate , FPL Final Tech Rpt(1957)... 

Kinetic Parameters of Cellulose Nitrate Thermal Decomposition... 

In considering the application of the gas theory, it is necessary to discuss the limits of flammability of the flammable gases -- that is, the concentrations beyond which the gas is either too diluted or too concentrated to burn, as well as the effect of a nonflammable diluent on these limits. The flammable limits of some of the gases produced burning the thermal decomposition of cellulose are shown in Table 1(6). 

Fabrication of Self-Supporting Oxide Targets by Cationic Adsorption in Cellulosic Membranes and Thermal Decomposition," Thomas C. Quinby in Proceeding of Workshop 1983 of the International Nuclear Target Development Society, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, Sept. 7-9, 1983. ANY/PHY-84-2 ... 

C. Fairbridge, R.A. Ross, and S.P. Sood, A kinetic surface study of the thermal decomposition of cellulose powder in inert and oxidizing atmospheres. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 22,497 (1978) also A.R. Horrocks, D. Davies, and M. Greenhalgh, The use of DTA to study spontaneous combustion of cellulose. Fire Mater., 9, 57 (1985). 

The literature contains numerous speculations as to the mechanism. Some involve a condensed phase mechanism, as, for example, in the case of cellulose in which it is suggested the formation in situ of antimony chloride which may react with cellulose to alter the course of thermal decomposition and/or form a heavy vapor tending to extinguish the flame. 28 Some involve a physical gas-phase mechanism such as formation in the flame of nonvolatile, antimony-containing solid or... 

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