Study of the mechanism of intumescence in fire retardant polymers: Part VI—Mechanism of ester formation in ammonium polyphosphate-pentaerythritol mixtures

It is shown that, on heating ammonium polyphosphate-pentaerythritol mixtures, phosphoric ester bonds are formed first by alcoholysis of the polyphosphate chain. Further intramolecular alcoholysis and/or esterification leads to cyclic pentaerythritol phosphate structures inserted in the polyphosphate chains. Evidence is also given of intermolecular dehydration of pentaerythritol in mixtures with a large excess of alcoholic hydroxy groups over phosphorus atoms. The intumescent behaviour of the mixtures is discussed in relation to the final structure of the product of reaction which depends on the composition of the original mixture.