Thermal degradation of a new flame retardant phosphate methacrylate polymer

The thermal degradation of a phosphate methacrylate polymer was monitored by in-situ FTIR, XPS, XRD and Raman measurements to investigate the variation in chemical structure and element contents, as well as the carbon structure of the final char formed after burning. The results show that the phosphate group decomposes easily in the range 200-250 degreesC. The degraded products further react with aromatic polynuclear hydrocarbons, formed above 270 degreesC to give phosphorus-carbon complexes. These complexes finally condense to form a graphite-like structure with an interplanar distance of 3.62Angstrom. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.