Thermal decomposition study of intumescent additives: Pentaerythritol phosphate and its blend with melamine phosphate

Thermal decomposition of pentaerythritol phosphate (PEPA) and its blend (PEPAMP) with melamine phosphate were studied by TG, DSC, TOF MS, and FTIR of volatile and solid decomposition products. Both PEPA and PEPAMP produce intumescent char on heating, however that of PEPAMP is less stable to thermo-oxidative decomposition. The main decomposition pathway of PEPA is liberation of phosphoric acid followed by formation of a foamed carbonized residue. In the mixture of PEPAMP, reaction between the components occurs, which strongly reduces the heat release peaks of PEPA. In addition, condensates of melamine and their products of hydrolysis are formed. The hydrolysis reaction causes a low-temperature decomposition of the melamine ring, which results in the formation of urea, carbon dioxide and ammonia. The thermal decomposition of PEPA and PEPAMP is discussed. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.