Model free kinetics—Thermal degradation of bisphenol A based polybismaleimide–cloisite 15a nanocomposites

•Bismaleimide nanocomposites were prepared using cloisite 15a (1,2,3,4,5,7 and 9wt%).•From FTIR, cloisite 15a interacts with the imide and ether parts of bismaleimide.•Microcomposites are formed at higher levels of clay loading.•Trend in variation of apparent Ea for degradation depends on the clay loading.•The Ea values are attributed to the formation of CO, CO2, amine and isocyanate.