Effects of Magnesium Hydroxide on Combustion Products of Polystyrene

Pure polystyrene (PS) and PS composites containing magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) were burned in alaboratory-scale combustion chamber. The analyses of combustion products were carried out by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the effects of Mg(OH)2 on combustion products of PS are obvious. With the increase of Mg(OH)2, the concentration of CO2 gradually reduces, and the majority of the volatile and semivolatile organic products, especially styrene monomer and some polycyclic compounds, take on increasing tendencies. Furthermore, the content of coke in residue also obviously increases because of the enhancement of Mg(OH)2. All the changes seem to imply that the presence of Mg(OH)2 alters reaction pathways during the combustion of PS, promotes incomplete combustion and decreases combustibility of PS.