Thermal Degradation Kinetics of Polyurethane/Magnetic Activated Carbon Derived from Orange-Peel/Fe3O4 Biocomposites

In present work, orange peel derived activated carbon (OPAC) /Fe3O4 loaded into polyurethane biocomposites were synthesized with different weight fractions of (OPAC)/Fe3O4 via, 0.5, 1 and 2 wt%  filler in the biocomposites. The physico – mechanical, thermal characteristics and magnetic properties  of fabricated (OPAC)/Fe3O4 filled biocomposites  have been measured by using DSC, TGA, DMA and VSM. A slight improvement in thermal stability was noticed for (OPAC)/Fe3O4 loaded biocomposites. The PU/(OPAC)/Fe3O4biocomposites are thermally stable up to 250ºC and completely degraded above 520 ºC. The biocomposites degradation kinetic parameters for each step of the thermal degradation processes have been studied using two mathematical models namely, Coats–Redfern and Broido's methods. The PU/(OPAC)Fe3O4 biocomposites showed high mechanical, magnetic, thermal properties at a low loading of 2 wt.%, and could potentially be used for a wide range of applications.