Thermal degradation characteristics of flame retardant polylactide using TG-IR

Flame retardant polylactide (PLA) composites were prepared using PLA and a hyperbranched polyphosphate ester (HPE). The flammability and thermal stability of flame retardant PLA composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 vertical burning, microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC), and thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-IR). The results showed that HPE had excellent flame retardant abilities for PLA. The TGA curves suggested that HPE has good ability of char formation, hence improved the flame retardant property. The volatilized products formed on thermal degradation of flame retardant PLA indicated that the volatilized products are mainly aldehyde containing compounds, CO, aliphatic esters, and CO2.