Behaviour of poly(ethylene:vinyl acetate) and polyether urethane-urea during thermal decomposition

Poly(ethylene:vinyl acetate) (pEVA) and polyether urethane-urea (PEUU) are widely used i.a. as materials for electric cable insulation, hence they contain various fiame-retardants for this purpose. Two flame-retardant filled pEVA samples are compared with PEUU sample without flame-retardant. Thermal effects accompanying the burning of these materials are examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), performed together with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which records and identifies gas products evolved during the combustion reactions. Quantification of mass loss is simultaneously assessed by thermogravimetry (TGA). Obtained data indicates that various processes proceed in these materials in the area of critical temperature range.