Thermogravimetric and FTIR studies of chitosan blends

Abstract Results of spectrophotometric and thermogravimetric studies of chitosan (CH) blends with polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL), starch (S) and hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) obtained by casting from solutions in the form of transparent films containing 0–1.0 weight fraction of CH were discussed. Blends containing S are homogeneous only in the case of low-weight fraction of S (to 0.3). On the basis of results of thermodegradation in dynamic and isothermal conditions, thermal stability of the tested systems was estimated. Thermogravimetric measurements in dynamic conditions were carried out in the temperature range of 100–450 °C at constant heating rate 15 °C/min. From thermogravimetry (TG) and DTG curves the activation energy and characteristic parameters of degradation of the tested blends were determined. The observed growth of activation energy and T p —temperature of initial weight loss, T max —temperature of maximal rate and C e —degree of conversion at the end of the measurement (at temperature 450 °C) along with the increase of polymer fraction (HPC and S) in the CH blend provides an evidence of improved thermal stability of the systems tested. Investigations in isothermal conditions in air at temperature from 100 to 200 °C confirmed appreciable improvement of CH thermal stability in the blends being tested. Infrared spectroscopic analysis of the blends showed a distinct stabilization of the process of chain scission. In the band at 1080 cm −1 associated with absorption in –C–O–C– group during degradation of the blends at temperature 200 °C much smaller decrease due to molecular scission were observed than in the case of pure CH.