Thermal and flammability behaviour of copolymers of N-(2, 4, 6-tribromophenyl)maleimide with some acrylates

The copolymers of N-(2, 4, 6-tribromophenyl)maleimide (TBPMI) with methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile of different composition were prepared by free radical polymerization at low conversion. Their thermal behaviour was established by TGA measurements in helium atmosphere and flammability properties were determined by limiting oxygen index method. The higher TBPMI content in the copolymer led to a higher thermal stability and lower flammability particularly when Sb₂O₃ was used as a synergist.