Ignition, polymer flammability temperature

The fire properties of PVC have been put into perspective recently [4, 5]. They show that PVC is a polymer with a high ignition temperature and low flammability. Furthermore, PVC products are associated with a low rate of heat release as well as little total heat released [4-9]. This will depend, clearly, on the type of product, since plasticised PVC products are obviously more flammable than rigid ones. 

The red allotropic form of phosphorus is relatively nontoxic and, unlike white phosphorus, is not spontaneously flammable. Red phosphorus is, however, easily ignited. It is a polymeric form of phosphorus, thermally stable up to ca. 450°C. In its finally divided form, it has proved to be a powerful flame-retardant additive.18 Elemental red phosphorus is a highly efficient flame retardant, especially for oxygen-containing polymers such as polycarbonates and polyethylene terephthalate). Red phosphorus is particularly useful in glass-filled polyamide 6,6, where high processing temperature (about 280°C) excludes the use of most phosphorus compounds.19 In addition, coated red phosphorus is used to flame retard nylon electrical parts, mainly in Europe and Asia.20... 

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