Premium
Mechanisms of action of phosphorus based flame retardants in acrylic polymers
Author(s) -
Lindsay Chris I,
Hill Stephen B,
Hearn Martin,
Manton Gary,
Everall Neil,
Bunn Alan,
Heron Jayne,
Fletcher Ian
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0126(200010)49:10<1183::aid-pi584>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , fire retardant , comonomer , copolymer , methacrylate , materials science , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , methyl methacrylate , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , engineering
The fire‐induced degradation chemistry of a random copolymer of methyl methacrylate with a flame retardant phosphate–methacrylate comonomer has been studied to gain an insight into the mechanisms of fire retardancy in the model system and thus help to provide a fundamental basis for the further development of fire resistant poly(methyl methacrylate)s. To obtain information about the fire‐induced condensed phase degradation chemistry of the model system, surface analytical techniques have been exploited to assemble a picture of the chemical nature of the surface char present on fire‐tested samples. A number of analytical techniques were utilized in these studies, including X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time‐of‐flight secondary ionization mass spectroscopy (TOF‐SIMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy. In addition, the model flame retardant copolymer was subjected to combined thermogravimetric and evolved gas analysis (TGA‐EVA) to identify the chemical nature of the volatile species evolved upon thermal degradation. Using the analytical data accumulated, a mechanism is proposed for the condensed phase mode of action of the phosphate‐based flame retardant in the model methacrylate copolymer. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry