Assessing Flame Retardant Performance of Polymer-Flame Retardant Blends Based on Polymer Degradation Studies with Thermal Analysis and Evolved-Gas Techniques

摘要

Polymer flame retardant (FR) additives can directly impact the polymer degradation pathway which in turn can impact the fire performance of the polymer. In many instances, the FR will show formation of unique species in the polymer degradation process as a result of an alternative degradation pathway. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) with techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) and pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC) allow the identification and quantitation of species formation that relate to the FR additives impact on the polymer degradation pathway. Studies will be shown which highlight the correlation between species formation and changes to the polymer degradation pathway and ultimately fire performance. This includes studies of the polymer degradation of an acrylic copolymer of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polyethylacrylate (PEA), PMMA-co-PEA, with various metal phosphorus FRs. Select metal phosphorus FRs based on aluminum metal show a distinct polymer degradation pathway change and formation of unique species. The levels of these species relate directly to fire performance and confirm the direct impact of the FR on polymer degradation to enhance fire performance.