THE DETERMINATION OF THE GASES RELEASED DURING HEATING OF A FLAME-RETARDANT FOR POLYMERS - COUPLING OF TG WITH FTIR, MS AND GC-MS

The oxidative degradation of HET-acid (1,4,5,6,7,7-hexachlorobicyclo [ 2.2.1] hept-5-en-2,3-dicarboxylic acid) is studied by the combination of TG, FTIR, MS and GC-MS. The gases evolved during the decomposition of this flame retardant are investigated on-line by FTIR and by MS. Si multaneously the evolved gases are collected by an adsorbent and, afte r the thermal experiment, desorbed to release the volatile products fo r identification using GC-MS. The combination of these techniques offe rs the unambiguous identification of the evolved products as a functio n of temperature. The main identified products are CO2, H2O, Cl-2, HCl , C2Cl4, maleic acid anhydride, HET-acid anhydride, chlorinated cyclic hydrocarbons and chlorinated unsaturated linear hydrocarbons.