Pyrolysis kinetics and TG-FTIR analysis of waste epoxy printed circuit boards

Thermal decomposition of waste epoxy PCBs was performed in different atmospheres (nitrogen,argon,air and vacuum) at a heating rate of 10 °C/min by DSC-TGA,and the pyrolysis characteristic was analyzed. The gases volatilized from the experiment were qualitatively analyzed by TG-FTIR. Kinetics study shows that pyrolysis reaction takes place between 300 and 400 °C,and the activation energies are 256,212 and 186.2 kJ/mol in nitrogen,argon and vacuum,respectively. There are two mass-loss processes in the decomposition under air atmosphere. In the first mass-loss process,the decomposition is the main reaction,and in the second process,the oxidation is the main reaction. The activation energy of the second mass-loss process is 99.6 kJ/mol by isothermal heat-treatments. TG-FTIR analysis shows carbon dioxide,carbon monoxide,hydrogen bromide,phenol and substituent phenol are given off during the pyrolysis of waste epoxy PCBs.