What Reacts with What in Bisphenol A Polycarbonate/Silicon Rubber/Bisphenol A Bis(diphenyl phosphate) during Pyrolysis and Fire Behavior?

The pyrolysis and flame retardancy of a bisphenol A polycarbonate/silicon rubber/bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (PC/SiR/BDP) blend were investigated and compared to those of PC/BDP and PC/SiR. The impact modifier SiR consists mainly of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS > 80 wt %). The pyrolysis of PC/SiR/BDP was studied by thermogravimetry (TG), TG FTIR to analyze the evolved gases, and a Linkam hot stage cell within FTIR as well as Si-29 NMR and P-31 NMR to analyze the solid residue. The fire performance was determined by PCFC, LOT, UL 94, and a cone calorimeter under different external irradiations. The fire residues were studied by using ATR-FTIR as well as the additional binary systems PC + PDMS, PC + BDP, and BDP + PDMS, focusing on the specific chemical interactions. The decomposition pathways are revealed, focusing on the competing interaction between the components. Fire retardancy in PC/SiR/BDP is caused by both flame inhibition in the gas phase and inorganic-carbonaceous residue formation in the condensed phase. The PC/SiR/BDP does not work as well superimposing the PC/SiR and PC/BDP performances. PDMS reacts with PC and BDP, decreasing BDP's mode of action. Nevertheless, the flammability (LOI > 37%, UL 94 V-0) of PC/SiR/BDP equals the high level of PC/BDP. Indeed, SiR in PC/SiR/BDP is underlined as a promising impact modifier in flame-retarded PC/impact modifier blends as an alternative to highly flammable impact modifiers such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), taking into account that the chosen SiR leads to PC blends with a similar mechanical performance.