COMBUSTION AND FIRE RETARDATION OF POLY(2,6-DIMETHYL-1,4-PHENYLENE ETHER)-HIGH-IMPACT POLYSTYRENE BLENDS .1. MORPHOLOGICAL ASPECTS

The study, by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and T EM), of the morphological aspects of thermal degradation of poly (phen ylene ether) -high-impact polystyrene blends (PPE/HIPS) occurring on b urning gives a detailed mechanistic insight into the process. It is se en that thermal degradation leads to a cellular structure in the mater ial that evolves to a foamed char on burning. The fire-retardant triph enyl phosphate can modify the shape and size of the cellular structure . (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.