Effect of Ammonium Halides On the Combustion of Polystyrene

Abstract

Effect of NH₄Cl and NH₄Br has been studied on combustion and decomposi tion of polystyrene (PS). NH₄Br, at low concentrations showed unfavourable ef fects on burning rate, which is surprising for an accepted fire retardent. NH₄Br accelerated degradation and combustion of PS. Thermogravimetric (TG) studies of PS + NH₄Br samples in N₂ showed that these samples degraded at lower temperatures and with faster rates compared to neat PS. In O₂ atmosphere the sensitization of the degradation started after about 30-40% weight loss. The dif ferential thermal analysis (DTA) of these samples gave some additional informa tion : both NH₄Cl & NH₄Br shifted the degradation temperature to a lower value than PS and exhibited exothermic reactions in the temperature range 400- 450 °C (more exothermicity in NH₄Br samples).

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