Abstract: Thermogravimetric analysis was performed at heating rates of 5, 10, and 15°C/min in nitrogen atmosphere to determine the thermal degradation kinetic parameters of maize starch. There are three stages of weight loss in the whole thermal process. The start and end temperatures in each stage are different at different heating rates. The temperature range was 25 to 125~146°C in stage I. For stage II and III, the temperature was from 266~274°C to 341~373°C and 342~378°C to 427~520°C, respectively. There is an observable decomposition in stage II in which the corresponding activation energy is 324.3~355.9 kJ/mol and the reaction order is 1.6~2.1. The predicted values of weight loss agree with the experimental results.