Pyrolysis behavior of phosphorus polyesters

The pyrolysis behavior of aromatic–aliphatic polyesters containing either a pendant 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) group or a phosphine oxide group incorporated into the polymer backbone was studied using a combination of thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-GC/MS. The behavior of the phosphorus polyesters was compared to that of non-phosphorus-containing reference polymers. It could be shown that the DOPO group mainly does not interfere with the polyester decomposition. It produces two main pyrolysis products, o-hydroxybiphenyl and dibenzofuran, with the latter one requiring a higher pyrolysis temperature. Minor products containing the DOPO ring result from secondary decomposition reactions. In contrast, the phosphine oxide group strongly modifies the polyester pyrolysis behavior by decreasing the degradation temperature and changing the composition of pyrolysis products. Among of those, phosphinites and a phosphinate could be identified indicating rearrangement processes of the phosphine oxide group taking place upon pyrolysis. Mass spectra of organophosphorus products and pyrolysis schemes of polyesters are discussed.     

Flame-retardant polyurethanes from phosphorus-containing isocyanates

Phosphorus-containing polyurethanes are synthesized by reacting phosphorus-containing diisocyanates, bis (4-isocyanatophenoxy) phenyl phosphine oxide (BIPPO) and bis (3-isocyanatophenyl) phenyl phosphine oxide (BIPPPO), with various diols. The chemical structures of the obtained monomers and polymers are characterized by IR, ¹H- and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. Thermal analysis of the phosphorus-containing polyurethanes reveals that incorporating phosphorus into the polymers increases exothermicity during their decomposition. According to these results, the phosphorus-containing polyurethanes are less thermally stable than conventional polyurethanes. Char yield and LOI measurements demonstrate that incorporating phosphorus into polyurethanes markedly improves their flame retardancy. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1769–1780, 1997     

Synthesis of soluble LC-polyesters

Soluble LC polymers were synthesized with the aim to approach molecular reinforcement. Chemical modification results in a decrease of the crystallinity and an increase of the solubility. Substitution of the amide hydrogen in poly(4-aminobenzoic acid) by a methyl group reduces the stiffness of the polymer very much, and as a result no lyotropic solutions are obtained. Poly(p-phenylene terephthalate) with substituents on the hydroquinone or on both monomer units were synthesized. With one phenylalkyl group in the repeating unit the polyesters are crystalline with melting points > 300°C. With two substituents the polymers form in many cases amorphous anisotropic glasses at room temperature. 2-Biphenyl is the most effective substituent with regard to increase of solubility. These polyesters form isotropic solutions in chloroform. Isotropic films obtained from these solutions become anisotropic on heating above the glass transition temperature. Films of polyester/polycarbonate blends show additivity of E-modulus with respect to both compounds.     

Synthesis of new linear polymers containing phosphorus atom in the main chain by the radical polyaddition: Addition polymers of phenylphosphine with 1,4-divinylbenzene or 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene and their properties

A polyaddition of phenylphosphine (PH) to 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) or 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene (DIPB) was carried out by radical initiations or UV irradiation at 60–80°C in toluene under a nitrogen atmosphere. The soluble polymer with higher molecular weight () was obtained in a high yield with AIBN initiator for 95 h in the presence of 5% excess of PH to DVB (monomer feed ratio [DVB]₀/[PH]₀ = 1/1.05). On the other hand, a polyaddition of PH to DIPB proceeded much slower than the case of DVB, but the high polymer was obtained in a high yield by choosing polyaddition conditions such as polyaddition temperature and initiator concentration. From ¹H-NMR, IR analyses, and phosphorus content of the polymers, it was characterized that both polymers have the alternating structure consisting of PH and DVB or DIPB units in 1 : 1 ratio. The glass transition and decomposition temperatures of both polymers under a nitrogen atmosphere were almost similar: 15–30°C and 380–385°C, respectively; but, the polymers were oxidized by heating under an atmosphere of air. The polymers had a self-extinguishing property and the polymer blend of the flammable polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene with the phosphorus-containing polymers exhibited an excellent flame resistance. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Soluble LC polyesters and their blend behavior

Poly(p-phenylene terephthalate) with substituents on the hydroquinone or on both monomer units were synthesized with the aim to obtain soluble LC polyesters. Focus was given to phenylalkyl substitution. With one phenylalkyl group in the repeating unit the polyesters are crystalline with melting points > 300°C. With two substituents the crystallinity is very low or the polymers are amorphous. These polyesters are soluble in chloroform forming isotropic solutions. Isotropic films of polyesters obtained from these solutions either crystallize or become anisotropic if heated above the glass transition temperature. The exponent in the Kuhn-Mark-Houwink equation is 0.95. Some of the polyesters form homogenous ternary solutions with polycarbonate. Films of the blends show additivity of modulus with respect to both components.     

Low Dielectric Thermoset from Redistributed Poly(phenylene oxide)

A curable low-molecular-weight poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) was prepared by the redistribution of regular PPO with bisphenol-A (BPA) followed by etherification of the redistributed-PPO (BPA-PPO) with N,N-diallyl-2-chloroacetamide. The redistributed-PPO with allyl group (AL-PPO) was characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The AL-PPO oligomers with reactive double bounds were cured with triallylisocyanurate (TAIC) and/or phosphorus-containing allyl-functionalized monomer (allyl-DOPO). The glass transition temperatures were measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Electrical properties of cured resins were studied using dielectric analyzer (DEA). The flame retardancy was determined by a UL-94 vertical test. The effects of curing accelerator, amount of TAIC and allyl-DOPO incorporated into the network on the glass transition temperatures, dielectric properties, and flame retardancy of the resulting systems were investigated. The results indicated that AL-PPO cured with TAIC exhibited high glass-transition temperature (162–198°C), low dielectric constants (2.36–2.57 at 1 GHz) and dissipation factors (0.0039–0.0043 at 1 GHz). The AL-PPO/TAIC copolymerized with allyl-DOPO could achieve a flame retardancy rating of UL-94 V-0 at about 1.35% phosphorus content. The AL-PPO/TAIC resins have potential applications in the fabrication of printed circuit board.     

Synthesis and characterization of new semifluorinated linear and hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s through B2 + A2 and AB2 approaches

A new phosphorus containing trifluoromethyl-activated bisfluoro B₂ monomer has been synthesized successfully by coupling reaction of 4-methoxyphenylphosphonic dichloride and the Grignard salt of 5-bromo-2-fluorobenzotrifluoride. This monomer was converted to linear poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s by nucleophilic displacement of the fluorine atom on the benzene ring with several diphenols. The B₂ monomer was further demethylated to form an AB₂ monomer which on self condensation yielded hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide) with identical phosphorous containing moiety. The products obtained exhibit weight-average molecular weights as high as 600,000 g mol⁻¹ in SEC. These linear and hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s showed thermal stability as high as 516 °C for 10% weight loss in TGA in nitrogen and showed glass transition temperatures up to 253 °C in DSC. All the polymers were soluble in a wide range of organic solvents, e.g., CHCl₃, THF, NMP and DMF, however, the hb sample showed a significant lower solution viscosity compared to linear samples of similar molar mass. Transparent thin films of linear poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s casted from dichloromethane exhibited tensile strengths up to 50 MPa, a modulus of elasticity up to 0.95 GPa and elongation at break up to 36% depending on their exact repeating unit structures. No free standing films could be prepared from the hb analogue due to the missing entanglements, but stable thin polymer films on silicon wafers with high hydrophobicity were formed which showed water contact angles as high as 91°.     

Influence of oxidation state of phosphorus on the thermal and flammability of polyurea and epoxy resin

The focus of this study is an investigation of the effect of oxidation state of phosphorus in phosphorus-based flame retardants on the thermal and flame retardant properties of polyurea and epoxy resin. Three different oxidation states of phosphorus (phosphite, phosphate and phosphine oxide) additives, with different thermal stabilities at a constant phosphorus content (1.5 wt.%) have been utilized. Thermal and flame retardant properties were studied by TGA and cone calorimetry, respectively. The thermal stability of both polymers decreases upon the incorporation of phosphorus flame retardants irrespective of oxidation state and a greater amount of residue was observed in the case of phosphite. Phosphate was found to be better flame retardant in polyurea, whereas phosphite is suitable for epoxy resin. Phosphite will react with epoxy resin by trans-esterification, which is demonstrated by FTIR and ³¹P NMR. Further, TG–FTIR and XPS studies also provide information on flame retardancy of both polymers with phosphorus flame retardants.     

Self-extinguishing cotton fabric with minimal phosphorus deposition

The phosphorus-containing acrylate monomer, 2-acryloyloxyethyl diethyl phosphate (ADEP), was synthesized and applied to cotton fabric by using the admicellar polymerization technique. A cationic surfactant (cetylpyridinium chloride, CPC) was used as the surfactant for admicellar polymerization. Results from FTIR-ATR and SEM showed that PADEP polymer film was successfully formed on the cotton fabric surface. TGA and DTG analyses showed that the phosphorus-containing PADEP lowered the decomposition temperature of the treated fabric resulting in a higher char yield than in the case of untreated cotton. The flammability tests showed that PADEP-coated cotton with the phosphorus content 4.18 mg/g cotton was self-extinguishing, with the flame extinguishing right after the removal of the ignition source leaving a small area of char formation.     

Synthesis, characterization, and cure properties of phosphorus-containing epoxy resins for flame retardance

An organophosphorus compound, 10-(2,5-dihydroxyl phenyl)-9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DHPDOPO), was synthesized through the reaction of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphnanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and p-benzoquinone, and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), and ¹H-NMR and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopes. Consequently, the phosphorus-containing epoxy resins with phosphorus content of 1 and 2 wt.% were prepared via the reaction of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A with DHPDOPO and bisphenol-A, and confirmed with FTIR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Phenolic melamine, novolak, and dicyanodiamide (DICY) were used as curing agents to prepare the thermosetted resins with the control and the phosphorus-containing epoxy resins. Thermal properties and thermal degradation behaviors of these the thermosetted resins were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Phenolic melamine-cured resins exhibited higher glass transition temperatures than the other cured resins due to the high rigidity of their molecular chain. TGA studies demonstrated that the decomposition temperatures of the novolak-cured resins were higher than those of the others. A synergistic effect from the combination of the phosphorus-containing epoxy resin and the nitrogen-containing curing agent can result in a great improvement of the flame retardance for their thermosetted resins.     

New Phosphorus-Containing Flame Retardants for Poly-Urethanes and Polyesters

Abstract

New phosphorus - containing monomers and oligomers from tetrakis(hydroxymetyl)phosphonium chloride and dialkylphosphites are synthesized. On the basis of new products phosphorus-containing polyesters, polyurethanes and polyuretanesemicazbazides with improved fire resistance are obtained. The dependence of fire resistance of the polymers on the structure of the use flame retardants is investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble aromatic polyesters derived from substituted terphenyl and quinquephenyl diols

Rigid aromatic polyesters containing alkoxy or phenyl-substituted oligophenyls were prepared. Soluble polymers were obtained also in cases where phenyl-substituted quinquephenyl diols were combined with asymmetric phenyl-substituted terephthalic acid. The synthesized polyesters were characterized by viscosimetry, gel permeation chromatography, thermal analysis, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The temperature dependence of the intrinsic viscosity was sensitive to the type of side groups. Thermogravimetry has shown that polyesters with aromatic substituents were stable up to 380–400°C. The glass transition temperatures of the polyesters with aromatic side groups were in the 220–260°C range as determined by DSC. Polyesters with hexyloxy side chains show crystallinity. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that in the cases where aromatic substituents were used to increase solubility, the obtained polymers have very useful mechanical properties at high temperatures. The polymer having the quinquephenyl unit in the main chain has an almost constant modulus up to 340°C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis,thermal and radiation sensitivities of halogen-containing decamethylene-spacered aromatic polyesters

A series of halogen-containing aromatic polyesters with decamethylene-spacer groups was synthesized by the solution polymerization from 4,4′-dicarboxyl-1,10-diphenoxy-decane and bisphenol A. Incorporation of fluorine atoms in the bisphenol A units in the polymer backbone enhanced the solubility of the polyesters in various organic solvents, as did the substitution of chlorine and bromine on the aromatic rings of the bisphenol A, ortho to the ester linkages. The effect of the halogen substituents on the thermal and radiation sensitivities of the polyesters has been investigated. The inherent viscosities of THF solutions at 30°C ranged from 0.25 to 0.63 dL/g. The number average (6,000∼31,000) and weight average molecular weights (12,000∼48,000) were measured by gel permeation chromatogrpahy, resulting in polydispersity indices of M₂/M_n=1.6∼2.0. The chemical structures of the polyesters were characterized by means of IR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and elemental analyses. All the results were in good agreement with the expected formula. Comparison of ¹³C NMR spectra of the polymers aided in the assignments of the structures. Only the unsubstituted polyester derived from bisphenol A was found to be semicrystalline by X-ray diffraction and DSC measurements, with a crystalline melting temperature of 160°C. The glass transition temperatures of the polyesters was found to be dependent on the size of the halogen substituent on the repeating units, and ranged from 77 to 140°C. The thermal stabilities of the polyesters showed a dependence on the nature of the halogen substituent, as did the high energy radiation sensitivites of the polymers, as assessed by the yields of radicals at 77 K. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ester-sulfone)s

Aliphatic and aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s were synthesized by the transesterifications of diphenyl adipate and diphenyl phthalates (ortho, meta, para) with two sulfonecontaining diols, 1,3-bis (3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl) propane (Diol-333) and 1,4-bis(3-hydroxypropylsulfonyl) butane (Diol-343). Based on DSC and WAXD studies, the aliphatic homopoly(ester-sulfone)s are semicrystalline at room temperature and liquid crystalline at elevated temperature, while their copolymers with alkanediols are liquid crystalline. The liquid crystalline phase formation in aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s is attributed to the strong dipole-dipole interactions between sulfone groups. The aromatic-aliphatic poly(estersulfone)s from diphenyl phthalate (ortho) and isophthalate (meta) are amorphous. They are soluble in trifluoroacetic acid and m-cresol at room temperature, and DMF, DMAC, and DMSO at elevated temperature. The aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s from diphenyl terephthalate are semicrystalline and are soluble only in trifluoroacetic acid. For a given diol, the glass transition temperatures of aromatic-aliphatic poly(ester-sulfone)s increase from phthalate to isophthalate to terephthalate. This is because the flexibility of the benzene ring in the polymer backbone decreases from ortho to meta to para substitution. As a comparison, polyesters without sulfone groups were synthesized from two alkanediols, 1,9-nonanediol and 1,10-decanediol, and the diphenyl esters. The poly(ester-sulfone)s have glass transition temperatures 60–80°C higher than the corresponding polyesters without sulfone groups, due to the strong dipolar interactions between sulfone groups. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

In-depth analysis on thermal phase transition mechanism of main-chain phosphorus-containing thermotropic liquid crystal copolyester

In order to surmount drawbacks of the infrared spectroscopy (IR) itself during investigating the mesophase-transition behaviours and mechanism of the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs), the elemental phosphorus as an internal marker was introduced into the main-chain TLCPs. The detail mechanism of the glass transition and mesophase phase transition of the phosphorus-containing aromatic liquid crystalline copolyester (poly(-hydroxybenzate-co-DOPO-benzenediol dihydrodiphenyl ether terephthalate) [PHDDT]) was revealed through tracing the internal marker with the perturbation correlation moving window 2-dimensional correlation and 2-dimensional correlation analysis (2DCOS) correlation IR spectra. The results showed that the phosphorus-containing unit did not participate in the glass transition of the PHDDT. The results of the 2DCOS showed that the PHDDT mesophase phase transition took place through adjustment of the phosphorus-containing units. Simultaneously, the adjustment of the phosphorus-containing unit also can induce the motion of the other groups, and the sequential orders of the spectral changes were Ar–O–Ar → ester C–O → C=O. However, the sequential orders of the spectral changes were converse during the PHDDT glass transition.     

Thermal and physical properties of flame-retardant epoxy resins containing 2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz〈c,e〉〈1,2〉oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-1,4-naphthalenediol and cured with dicyanate ester

2-(6-oxido-6H-dibenz(c,e)(1,2)oxaphosphorin-6-yl)-1,4-naphthalenediol (DOPONQ) was prepared by the addition reaction of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) with 1,4-naphthoquinone. The phosphorus-containing diol (DOPONQ) was used as a reactive flame retardant by an advancement reaction with the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy (DGEBA) resin at various stoichiometric ratios. DOPONQ-containing advanced epoxy was separately cured with various dicyanate esters to form flame-retardant epoxy/cyanate ester systems. The effect of the phosphorus content and dicyanate ester structure on the curing characteristic, glass transition temperature, dimensional stability, thermal stability, flame retardancy, and dielectric property was studied and compared with that of the control advanced bisphenol-A epoxy system. The DOPONQ-containing epoxy/cyanate ester systems exhibited higher glass transition temperatures as well as better thermal dimensional and thermal degradation stabilities. The flame retardancy of the phosphorus-containing epoxy/dicyanate ester system increased with the phosphorus content, and a UL-94 V-0 rating could be achieved with a phosphorus content as low as 2.1%.     

A review on thermal decomposition and combustion of thermoplastic polyesters

An overview is presented of the literature on the thermal decomposition and combustion of thermoplastic polyesters, especially commercially important poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(1,4‐butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Although the literature is not clear as to whether heterolytic or homolytic scission of aliphatic fragments is the first step in the thermal decomposition of polyesters, in any case volatilization of light aliphatic fragments make polyesters easily ignitable polymers. Despite the presence of benzene groups in the main polymer chain, thermoplastic polyesters show very limited tendency to char, but instead, aromatic‐containing polymer fragments volatilize and feed the flame. Fire retardant additives, although they usually facilitate decomposition of the polyesters at lower temperature, also usually promote charring and therefore suppress combustion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phosphorus polyester versus aluminium phosphinate in poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT): Flame retardancy performance and mechanisms

Pyrolysis and fire behaviour of a phosphorus polyester (PET-P-DOPO) have been investigated. The glycol ether of the hydroquinone derivative of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide was used as a reactive halogen-free flame retardant in PET-P-DOPO. PET-P-DOPO is proposed as an alternative to poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) with established halogen-free additives. It exhibits a high LOI (39.3%) and achieves V-0 classification in the UL 94 test. Three different mechanisms (flame inhibition, charring and a protection effect by the intumescent char) contribute to the flame retardancy in PET-P-DOPO and were quantified with respect to different fire risks. The fire load was reduced by 66% of the PBT characteristic. The reduction is the superposition of the relative reduction due to flame inhibition (factor 0.625) and charring (factor 0.545). The peak of heat release rate (pHRR) was reduced by 83% due to flame inhibition, charring and the protection properties of the char (factor 0.486). The strength of all three mechanisms is in the same order of magnitude. The intumescent multicellular structure enables the char to act as an efficient protection layer. PBT flame-retarded with aluminium diethylphosphinate was used as a benchmark to assess the performance of PET-P-DOPO absolutely, as well as versus the phosphorus content. PET-P-DOPO exhibits superior fire retardancy, in particular due to the additional prolongation of the time to ignition and increase in char yield. PET-P-DOPO is a promising alternative material for creating halogen-free flame-retarded polyesters.     

Kinetics of thermal degradation in non-isothermal conditions of some phosphorus-containing polyesters and polyesterimides

The thermal decomposition behavior of some phosphorus-containing polyesters and a polyesterimide was studied using thermogravimetric analysis in air at several heating rates between 5 °C/min and 20 °C/min. The results of this study, realized for polymers with phosphorus linkage as pendant group, were compared with the behavior of some polymers having the same backbone structure, with phosphorus in the main chain, respectively, without phosphorus. The kinetic processing of data was carried out using the Coats-Redfern, Reich-Levi, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger methods.     

Thermal and combustion characteristics of phosphorus and phosphorus/nitrogen-containing styrene monomers and oligomers

Two series of styrene monomers, one with phosphorus-containing moieties as substituents and the other with substituents containing both phosphorus and nitrogen, have been prepared, characterized, and converted to oligomers. The oligomers contain, in the one case, phosphorus and, in the other, phosphorus and nitrogen. This provides the opportunity to not only assess the impact of the presence of phosphorus on the combustion characteristics of the oligomers but to determine whether or not this impact is enhanced by the presence of nitrogen. The level of residue from thermogravimetry and heat release rate during combustion suggest that the presence of nitrogen may have a small positive impact on the effectiveness of phosphorus flame retardants.