Reduction of flammability of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene by using triphenyl phosphate additives

The mechanism of reducing the flammability of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with triphenyl phosphate (TPP) additives was investigated, using the methods of molecular-beam mass spectrometry (MBMS), differential mass spectrometric thermal analysis (DMSTA), thermocouple, thermogravimetry (TGA), and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Kinetics of thermal degradation of pure UHMWPE and of that mixed with TPP was studied at high (～150 K/s) and low (0.17 K/s) heating rates at atmospheric pressure. Effective values of the rate constants of the thermal degradation reaction were determined. Times of ignition delay, the limiting oxygen index, the burning rates of UHMWPE and UHMWPE + TPP and their temperature profiles in the flames were measured. The flame structure was investigated and the composition of the combustion products in the flame zone adjacent to the specimen’s combustion surface. TPP vapors in flame were found. Addition of TPP to UHMWPE was found to result in reduction of polymer flammability. TPP was shown to act as flame retardant both in the condensed and gas phases.