Investigation Thermal properties of Poly(ethylene oxide) and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Blends by TGA

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was blended with 10 and 90 wt % of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose(HPMC) by solution casting process. The blend films thus obtained weredried and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microcopy (SEM). DSC analysis shows shift in melting temperature of PEO and glass transition temperature of HPMC indicating interaction between PEO and HPMC molecules. TGA analysis indicates reduction in thermal stability of PEO with incorporation of HPMC in terms of reduction in onset of degradation temperature and increase in percentage of weight loss. FT-IR analysis revealed the existence of specific intermolecular interactions between ethereal oxygen of PEO and hydroxyl groups of HPMC from the shift and change in intensity of ethereal and hydroxyl bands. SEM photomicrographs shows the existence of dispersed HPMC particles on the PEO matrix surface.

Keywords:

Poly(ethylene oxide) , hydroxypropyl methylcellulose , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , differential scanning calorimetry , thermogravimetric analysis , Scanning electron microcopy