Strategy for Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Polymeric Materials

摘要

A review is presented of a methodology developed to identify and quantify the products formed during the thermal decomposition of natural and synthetic materials. Procedures utilizing computerized analytical systems required to separate, identify, and quantify components of complex mixtures of low boiling volatiles, high boiling volatiles, and solid residues resulting from pyrolysis, oxidative degeneration, and flaming combustion processes, are emphasized. It is noted that the most important factors to be considered in evaluating a material's flammability characteristics are thermal flux impinged on the material, the rate of heating, the material's environment, and the nature and concentration of fire retardants used to modify the material's response to ignition sources. Other factors which may affect a material's flammability include sample density, porosity, geometry, and surface characteristics.