The determination of the gases released during heating of a flame retardant for polymers - Coupling of TG with FTIR, MS and GC-MS

Abstract

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. Simultaneously the evolved gases are collected by an adsorbent and, after the thermal experiment, desorbed to release the volatile products for identification using GC-MS. The combination of these techniques offers the unambiguous identification of the evolved products as a function 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.