Pyrolysis behavior of phosphorus polyesters

The pyrolysis behavior of aromatic–aliphatic polyesters containing either a pendant 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) group or a phosphine oxide group incorporated into the polymer backbone was studied using a combination of thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-GC/MS. The behavior of the phosphorus polyesters was compared to that of non-phosphorus-containing reference polymers. It could be shown that the DOPO group mainly does not interfere with the polyester decomposition. It produces two main pyrolysis products, o-hydroxybiphenyl and dibenzofuran, with the latter one requiring a higher pyrolysis temperature. Minor products containing the DOPO ring result from secondary decomposition reactions. In contrast, the phosphine oxide group strongly modifies the polyester pyrolysis behavior by decreasing the degradation temperature and changing the composition of pyrolysis products. Among of those, phosphinites and a phosphinate could be identified indicating rearrangement processes of the phosphine oxide group taking place upon pyrolysis. Mass spectra of organophosphorus products and pyrolysis schemes of polyesters are discussed.