Pyrolysis gas chromatographic studies on polyphosphate esters of bisphenol A

Abstract

Pyrolysis gas chromatographic studies were carried out on two polyphosphate esters of bisphenol A. The gaseous pyrolysis products were found to be mainly phenols and a few phosphate compounds. The identification of phosphorus compounds in the gas phase proves a gas phase mechanism of flame retardant action for polyphosphates. The presence of phosphoric acid in the char residue supports the existence of the conventional condensed-phase mechanism. Thus, the study demonstrates that both condensed-phase and gas-phase mechanisms are operative in the flame-retardant action of polyphosphates.