FLAME RETARDANCY AND REACTIONS ON THE SUR FACES OF POLYPHENYLENE-ETHER POLYSTYRENE ALLOY/

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 pro portional to the content of PPE in the polymer alloy as well as to the content of phosphorous compounds. We observed surface temperatures du ring a combustion, the dement analysis of carbonaceous structure on po lymer surface and the scission products obtained by thermal degradatio n. The rearrangement reaction of PPE was observed during the thermal d egradation under inert atmosphere by analyzing the content of monomeri c 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 re action accelerated by aromatic phosphates.