Cross-linking activation energy determination

In more general terms, the thermal decomposition of coal is a complex process (Stein, 1981 Solomon et al., 1992). Activation energies determined by experimental techniques indicate that the decomposition rate(s) is (are) controlled by the scission of carbon-carbon covalent bonds and the like (POutsma, 1987). In fact, the concepts that bond scission during coal pyrolysis can be induced by other means (McMillen et al., 1989) or can be influenced by cross-linking are sound and deserve consideration in the light of coal complexity and the potential interference of the primary products with one another as well as with the vestiges of the original coal. 

Actually, crosslinks control the molecular packing and indeed significantly affect the elastic modulus of the material. As the intermolecular energy of kink formation is also determined by elastic modulus, the yield stress will definitely vary with modulus and thus the cross -linking density. In other words, crosslinks may not seriously affect the activation segment configuration in the molecular chain but will indirectly control the yield stress. 

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