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The role of flame‐retardant chemicals in the thermal degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate). Studies with the model ester n ‐propyl pyrene‐1‐carboxylate
Author(s) -
Day M.,
Ho K.,
Wiles D. M.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1980.070251224
Subject(s) - fire retardant , pyrolysis , decomposition , thermal decomposition , carboxylate , polyester , ethylene , pyrene , bromine , polymer chemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry , kinetics , materials science , catalysis , physics , quantum mechanics
The pyrolysis of n ‐propyl pyrene‐1‐carboxylate, a model ester for poly(ethylene terephthalate), has been studied using pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The major mode of decomposition has been identified as the formation of propylene and pyrene‐1‐carboxylic acid as a result of a cyclic intramolecular rearrangement. When phosphorus or bromine containing compounds are blended with the model ester, no significant changes are observed in the kinetics of the overall pyrolysis, while relatively small changes are observed in the mode of decomposition with the phosphorus compound. The results suggest that the role played by phosphorus and bromine in flame‐retarding polyesters is predominately restricted to the gas phase.