Combustion and pyrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate). I. The role of flame retardants on products of pyrolysis

Abstract

The products of pyrolysis of untreated and flame-retarded poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) have been studied at two temperatures using a flash pyrolysis/gas chromatography technique. The pyrolysis products were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and reaction mechanism for their formation are proposed. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of these products reveals that the phosphorus-only flame retardants have no effect on the solid-phase pyrolysis of PET. The two bromine-containing flame retardants, however, while capable of influencing the pyrolysis, were not capable of producing large changes in the major products. Their main role in the pyrolysis appears to alter slightly the balance of several competing secondary pyrolysis reactions.