US EPA

3856728 

Journal Article 

Mechanistic study on flame retardance of polycarbonate with a small amount of potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate by TGA-FTIR/XPS 

Huang, XB; Ouyang, XY; Ning, FL; Wang, JQ 

2006 

1 

Polymer Degradation and Stability
ISSN: 0141-3910 

91 

3 

606-613 

English 

10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.02.028 

WOS:000234162800028 

The work focuses on a mechanistic study of the title system with the aid of both TGA-FTIR (in the gas phase) and XPS (in the condensed phase). It is concluded that: (1) although the change in yield of char for PC/PPFBS is insignificant with respect to PC itself it appears that the majority of the crucial FR activity is in the condensed phase as indicated by the XPS data; (2) TGA-FTIR experiments support the view that the degradation of polycarbonate proceeds by the cleavage of the C-alpha-O and the C-beta-H bonds, leading to the formation of dienes, diols and carbon dioxide; (3) the reverse reaction of the intermediates, like phenols, may Occur via the basic catalyst, possibly K-alkyl oxide, a weaker base is generated in the process; (4) voluminous evolution of CO, accelerated by PPFBS may give flame retardance by way of intumescent action and its dilution into the gas phase. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

flame retardant polycarbonate; potassium perfluorobutane sulfonate; FTIR-TGA; XPS