Thermal decomposition kinetics of balsa wood: Kinetics and degradation mechanisms comparison between dry and moisturized materials

Thermogravimetric analyses under air atmosphere were performed up to 973 K on balsa wood to investigate the thermal degradation process of two types of samples aged differently: a dry balsa specimen and a hygroscopically aged material. The Kissinger method was used to determinate the kinetic parameters as the activation energy Ea, the pre-exponential factor k0 and the order of reaction n. The three constituents of balsa (i.e. hemicellulose,...