Abstract
This study was investigated the thermal decomposition characteristics of azo type sponge blowing agent azodicarbonamide(ADCA) using differential scanning calorimeter(DSC). The experimental results showed that the exothermic onset $temperatures(T_{o})$ for ADCA were about $201{\sim}206^{\circ}C$ and evolution heats(Q) were about $144{\sim}150cal/g$. The exothermic onset $temperatures(T_{o})$, exothermic maximum $temperature(T_{m})$ and exothermic final $temperature(T_{f})$ were decreased by decreasing particle size of ADCA and evolution heats(Q) were increased with it. $T_{o}$ and Q for $6.1{\sim}7.2{\mu}m$ ADCA were increased by increasing heating rate at constant sample weight and activation energy was about 37.29kcal/mol. A positive gas pressure was employed in the elucidation of the decomposition behavior of ADCA because it sublimes during linear heating at atmospheric pressure. $T_{o}$ and Q of ADCA tended to increase with a pressure in air or nitrogen. In the case of azo dye, experimental results showed that $T_{o}$ were about $280{\sim}420^{\circ}C$ and Q were about $2{\sim}30cal/g$.