The effect of elemental red phosphorus on the thermal degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The influence of elemental red phosphorus on the rate of thermal degradation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) has been studied in the temperature range of 400° to 500°C in inert and oxidizing atmospheres by means of isothermal thermogravimetric analysis. Addition of red phosphorus is found to reduce the rates of both the pyrolytic and the thermo-oxidative degradation and to increase the amount of residual char. A correlation of pyrolysis rates with oxygen index data has been attempted.