THERMAL AND THERMOOXIDATIVE DEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE WITH AMMONIUM POLYPHOSPHATE

The effect of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) on thermal and thermo-oxida tive degradation of polystyrene (PS) was studied with methods of Therm ogravimetry (TG), Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), Thermo chromatography (ThGC), Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), and Fourie r Transform Infrared Spectra (IR). APP slightly accelerated thermal de gradation of PS in nitrogen due to its acidity. However, whether APP a ccelerated or retarded thermo-oxidative degradation of PS much depende d on addition levels in air. At the low addition levels, APP seemed to retard thermal degradation of PS via formation of a glassy layer; at the high addition levels, APP seemed to accelerate thermal degradation of PS due to its acidity.