Thermogravimetric study of polyethylene catalytic degradation by zeolites

Abstract

Commercial samples of high density polyethylene were decomposed over faujasites (FAU) type zeolites (Y-type) using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The catalytic activity and behavior of the FAU-zeolites catalysts were determined. It was found that the degradation temperature of polymer strongly depends on the catalytic acidity of the zeolites. HY zeolite was identified as the most active catalyst due to its strong acidity. The results showed that the activation energy decrease with the amount of catalyst added.