GC/MS Identification of Pyrolysis Products from Fire-retardant Brominated Epoxy Resin

Abstract

Brominated epoxy resins cured with diaminodiphenyl sulfone are thermally less stable than nonbrominated analogs. This thermal instability is likely to be caused by the formation of hydrogen bromide which destabilizes the epoxy network. As a result of the reaction of HBr with the epoxy resin, bromine-containing aromatics (brominated phenols, alkenyl aryl ether, hydroxyalkyl aryl ethers), as well as nonbromine-containing compounds form high-boiling decomposition products. The mass spectra of the brominated products collected from pyrolysis at 300 C in the open system under helium are presented and discussed.