Synthesis, characterization and thermal degradation of 8-hydroxyquinoline–guanidine–formaldehyde terpolymer

Abstract Terpolymer (8-HQGF) has been synthesized using the monomers 8-hydroxyquinoline, guanidine, formaldehyde in 1:1:2 molar proportions. The structure of 8-HQGF terpolymer has been elucidated on the basis of elemental analysis and various physicochemical techniques, i.e. UV–Visible, FTIR–ATR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Detailed thermal degradation study of the new terpolymer has been carried out to ascertain its thermal stability. Thermal degradation curve is discussed which shows two decomposition steps (265–475 °C and 540–715 °C). Sharp–Wentworth and Freeman–Carroll methods have been used to calculate activation energies and thermal stability. The activation energy ( E a ) calculated by…