Abstract
The effect of polyphenylene-ether [poly (oxi-2, 6-dimethyl-1, 4-phenylene): PPE] and polyphenylene-ether/polystyrene alloys on flame retardancy and surface reactions have been studied. The flame retardancy was proportional to the content of PPE in the polymer alloy as well as to the content of phosphorous compounds. We observed surface temperatures during a combustion, the element analysis of carbonaceous structure on polymer surface and the scission products obtained by thermal degradation. The rearrangement reaction of PPE was observed during the thermal degradation under inert atmosphere by analyzing the content of monomeric and dimeric scission products. The main-chain of PPE rearranges to a polymer which has methylene-bridge between benzene rings. The polymer is converted to the carbonaceous structure by dehydrogenation. The reaction accelerated by aromatic phosphates.
