Thermal Stability of MetalloceneEthylene-Norbornene Copolymer with Low Norbornene Content

The degradation behavior of series of synthesized ethylene-norbornene copolymers with low content co-monomer were investigated under non-isothermal condition using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Results showed norbornene has two different effects. Higher norbornene incorporation results in early degradation due to low molecular weight chains and branching effect of norbornene. During main degradation process samples containing higher co-monomer content showed higher thermal stability due to steric effect norbornene. Higher amount of residual weights at the end of degradation process was observed for copolymers containing more incorporated norbornene