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Pyrolysis Kinetics and Gas Evolution of Flame-Retardant PVC and PE: A TG-FTIR-GC/MS Study
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This study examines how flame-retardant additives in PVC wire insulation affect its pyrolysis behavior, including the temperatures at which decomposition occurs and the gases released. Understanding these kinetics is critical for designing safer thermal recycling processes and assessing the toxic emissions risk from burning PVC waste. The findings provide data to support more effective end-of-life management of flame-retardant plastic materials.
The insulation layer of flame-retardant cables plays a critical role in mitigating fire hazards by influencing toxic gas emissions and the accuracy of fire modeling. This study systematically explores the pyrolysis kinetics and volatile gas evolution of flame-retardant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene (PE) insulation materials using advanced TG-FTIR-GC/MS techniques. Distinct pyrolysis stages were identified through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) at heating rates of 10–40 K/min, while the KAS model-free method and Málek fitting function quantified activation energies and reaction mechanisms. Results revealed that flame-retardant PVC undergoes two major stages: (1) dehydrochlorination, characterized by the rapid release of HCl and low activation energy, and (2) main-chain scission, producing aromatic compounds that contribute to fire toxicity. In contrast, flame-retardant PE demonstrates a more stable pyrolysis process dominated by random chain scission and the formation of a dense char layer, significantly enhancing its flame-retardant performance. FTIR and GC/MS analyses further highlighted distinct gas evolution behaviors: PVC primarily generates HCl and aromatic hydrocarbons, whereas PE releases olefins and alkanes with significantly lower toxicity. Additionally, the application of a classification and regression tree (CART) model accurately predicted mass loss behavior under various heating rates, achieving exceptional fitting accuracy (R2 > 0.98). This study provides critical insights into the pyrolysis mechanisms of flame-retardant cable insulation and offers a robust data framework for optimizing fire modeling and improving material design.
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A lumped kinetic model and experimental investigation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) condensed-phase pyrolysis
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Researchers developed the first quantitative kinetic model for the condensed-phase pyrolysis of PET plastic, combining molecular and radical reaction pathways across 85 species and 700 reactions to simulate thermochemical recycling. The model was validated against new experimental data from TGA and GCxGC-MS analyses, providing a publicly available framework to improve chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste.
Reliable thermal mass quantification of PVC – An ongoing challenge
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Researchers examined the challenges of reliably quantifying PVC using thermal analysis and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, noting that PVC is among the most analytically difficult polymer candidates due to its complex pyrolytic decomposition and potential for interference from multiple matrix sources. They found that contextual data interpretation is essential when analyzing polymer clusters in complex environmental samples, particularly where thermal decomposition products share origins with other organic matrix components.
Reliable thermal mass quantification of PVC – An ongoing challenge
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Researchers examined the challenges of reliably quantifying PVC using thermal analysis methods such as pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, highlighting the complexity of pyrolytic processes and the susceptibility to matrix interference from organic compounds. They found that PVC is a particularly problematic candidate because its thermal decomposition products can originate from multiple sources, requiring careful contextual interpretation of results to avoid misidentification.
Synergistic effects and mechanism of hazardous chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbon formation during plastics combustion: A multiscale study
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This study examines the synergistic toxic effects of chlorinated aromatic compounds released from plastic materials during degradation or incineration. The researchers investigated how these hazardous compounds interact to produce combined toxicity greater than individual exposures. Findings highlight the compounded health and environmental risks posed by chlorinated byproducts from plastic waste.
Real-Time Pyrolysis Dynamics of Thermally Aged Tire Microplastics by TGA-FTIR-GC/MS
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Researchers used a combined thermal analysis and spectroscopy technique (TGA-FTIR-GC/MS) to characterise in real time how tire wear particles — a major but often overlooked type of microplastic — break down when heated, releasing a range of potentially toxic organic compounds. Understanding the pyrolysis chemistry of aged tire microplastics is important for assessing the contamination risks they pose to aquatic and terrestrial environments as they degrade.
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