A review on thermal decomposition and combustion of thermoplastic polyesters

Abstract An overview is presented of the literature on the thermal decomposition and combustion of thermoplastic polyesters, especially commercially important poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(1,4‐butylene terephthalate) (PBT). Although the literature is not clear as to whether heterolytic or homolytic scission of aliphatic fragments is the first step in the thermal decomposition of polyesters, in any case volatilization of light aliphatic fragments make polyesters easily ignitable polymers. Despite the presence of benzene groups in the main polymer chain, thermoplastic polyesters show very limited tendency to char, but instead, aromatic‐containing polymer fragments volatilize and feed the flame. Fire retardant additives, although they usually facilitate decomposition of the polyesters at lower temperature, also usually promote charring and therefore suppress combustion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.