Effect of Rosemary Extract on the Thermal Stability of a Poly(ethylene oxide)-based Polymer Composite

The effect of rosemary extract (RE) addition on the thermal stability of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composites was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Characteristic parameters of thermal degradation in an inert atmosphere were determined, and it was concluded that the addition of RE enhanced the thermal stability of the polymer matrix. Additionally, kinetic analysis was performed using isoconversional Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and Friedman (FR) methods, as well as a multivariate non-linear regression method. The results revealed a three-stage thermal degradation process in all investigated samples, with the PEO degradation mechanism remaining unaffected by the presence of RE.