Thermal properties and combustibility of chlorosulfonated polyethylene

The results of investigations of thermal stability (at temp. 800° in an air atmosphere; Fig. 1 and 2, Table 1 and 2) and combustibility (Table 3) of four grades of chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM), differing in chlorine content (22-43%) are presented. Thermogravimetric analyses results show the three stage mechanism of decomposition. The numerical values of factors of thermal stability (T5 and T50), hydrogen chloride release rate as well as thermooxidative decomposition were determined. It was found that HCl released during the destruction of material favored the ionic mechanism of CSM decomposition, not radical (homolytic) one. This leads to substantial decrease in the decomposition process rate. The mechanism of this auto-inhibition does not significantly influence the thermal resistance of the CSM polymers investigated, however, it plays substantial role in limitation of their combustibility (determined as oxygen index OI values). CSM grades containing ?35% of chlorine bonded belong to non-flammable polymers while the rest of them - to self-extinguishing ones.