Mechanistic Aspects of Condensed- and Gaseous-Phase Activities of Some Phosphorus-Containing Fire Retardants

As a part of our ongoing investigations on passively fire protecting polymeric materials, we have been employing both reactive and additive routes involving phosphorus-containing compounds. These included inorganic and organic substances, and in the latter case, the phosphorus-bearing groups differed in terms of the chemical environments (phosphite, phosphate, phosphine, phosphine oxide and phosphonate ester) and oxidation state of the P atom (i.e., III, or V). The overall flammability profiles of wood substrates coated with the phosphorus-containing compounds were obtained through cone calorimetric measurements. The elemental composition, morphology and chemical natures of the char residues, obtained from the cone tests, were analysed through a variety of spectroscopic, chromatographic and spectrometric means. From the complementary information, obtained through these analyses, some probable mechanistic pathways that underpin the condensed- and gaseous-phase activities of the different additives are suggested. It was found that the inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH4)2HPO4, underwent a two-step degradation, yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid. Furthermore, the liquid additives, owing to their volatility as compared to the solid ones, showed a relatively higher presence in the vapour phase than volatile fragments emanating from the latter ones (i.e., from phosphine and the phosphine oxides).


Introduction
Wood and its products have been used as a construction material, globally, for thousands of years, primarily owing to their desirable properties like, high strength to weight ratio, ease of availability, durability, etc. Moreover, there is an ample global supply of these materials for the foreseeable future, despite the worldwide trend towards deforestation. Recently, there has been also a renewed interest in the fabrication of products from timber, especially, for their use in high-rise buildings, which can be attributed to its environmentally benign nature and a near carbon neutrality [1]. Furthermore, the use of timber for construction can significantly reduce the environmental impact of construction over the other commonly used construction elements like steel and reinforced concrete [2,3]. However, one important factor which limits the usage of timber as a building material, particularly in larger and high-rise buildings, is its combustible nature [4]. As fire safety is an important criterion of choice for determining the best building material to be used for construction, it is important to address this issue and design strategies to enhance its fire resistance.
Phosphorus-based compounds have shown to be one of the most efficient systems for fire proofing cellulosic materials [5,6]. Generally, phosphorous is incorporated into a polymeric matrix either using
The char residues for the measurements of phosphorus contents and associated analyses were obtained from the cone calorimetric runs, on virgin and coated timber samples. The formulations for coating the timber substrates were prepared as aqueous colloidal mixtures of fish gelatin (ca. 10 g) and the required amount of additive (i.e., 0.016 mols in all cases) at ca. 60 • C. The different formulations were then uniformly applied onto the top surface of the wood samples (ca. 0.5 mm thickness), and were left to dry in a fume cupboard overnight. The details of sample preparation for the cone tests and test solutions of char residues for inductively-coupled optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) are given elsewhere [10,11]. Here, the measurements of phosphorus contents were done in triplicate by using Shimadzu ICPE-9000 instrument (Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Melbourne, Australia) and the average values were taken. The details regarding the recording of 31 P solid-state NMR and Raman spectra are also given in our previous publication [11].
For the GC/MS runs, a Shimadzu GCMS-QP2010 instrument (Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, Melbourne, Australia) with a capillary column with following specifications was used: ZB-5MS; length: 30 m; thickness: 0.5 µm; diameter: 0.25 mm. Dilute solutions of the liquid additive (ca. one or two drops in 1 cm 3 of methanol were prepared, and were automatically injected (ca. 1 µL) into the port with a split ratio of 10:1. The column oven temperature was set at 45 • C (hold time: 0.5 min) and the injection temperature was set at 250 • C. The temperature ramp was set at 25 • C min −1 , and final temperature was set at 300 • C (hold time: 1.5 min). The carrier gas pressure was maintained at 86.6 kPa, with a column flow rate of 1.5 cm 3 min −1 where the total flow was set at 154.4 cm 3 min −1 . The GC was coupled to the mass spectrometer which employed electron impact ionization. The associated operating parameters of the MS are as follows: ion source temperature: 250 • C, interface temperature: 300 • C; solvent cut time: 3 min; GC program time: 12.2 min; mass range: 40-400 m/z).
Pyrolysis-GC/MS was performed with the pyrolysator Pyroprobe 5000 (CDS Analytical, Inc., Oxford, PA, USA) with platinum filament coupled with gas chromatograph GC7890A (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) with GC column HP-5MS (non-polar, length: 30 m; inner diameter: 250 µm; layer thickness: 0.25 µm), (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The carrier gas was helium with a gas flow rate of 1 cm 3 min −1 . The GC was equipped with the mass-selective detector MSD 5975C inert XL EI/CI (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) with a mass scan range between 15-550 m/z and EI at 70 eV. The samples were pyrolyzed at the temperatures of maximum mass losses found in TGA. The inlet temperature of the GC was variable, the oven temperature program fixed (2 min at 50 • C; heating with 12 K min −1 to 280 • C).

Results and Discussion
The additives chosen for the present study not only differed in terms of the chemical environments but also in terms of the oxidation state of the phosphorus atom (III, or V). They were also constituted of both solids and liquids. Here, the phosphine and phosphine oxides (i.e., TPP, and TPPO and DOPO) can be considered as stable versions of organo-phosphorus compounds with an aromatic structural integrity, whereas the liquid ones (DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP) are relatively easily volatile, and are also more amenable to thermal cracking. The cone calorimetric results clearly indicated that the formulation containing fish gelatin and DOPO exhibited the best fire-proofing effects, as gauged from the values of the relevant parameters. The peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat released (THR) and effective heats of combustion (EHC) were found to the lowest, as compared to the virgin and other modified substrates [11]. In this context, we have also endeavoured to identify the gaseous phase fragments emanating from these additives, under an electron impact (GC/MS), or upon thermolysis (i.e., pyrolysis-GC/MS)-the details are given in Sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.2. Whilst some of the additives have been extensively used in the case of synthetic polymers [12][13][14][15][16] to the best of our knowledge, there are only limited information in the literature regarding their use as components for bio-sourced formulations for passively fire protecting ligno-cellulosic materials [10,11].

Inductively-Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
The phosphorus loadings of the formulations varied within a relatively narrow range that corresponded to a 0.016 molar loading of the additive in each case (i.e., 3.43 to 4.10 wt %), whilst the extents of phosphorus retention in the char residues exhibited a wider range of values (i.e., 3.52 to 7.82 wt %). Therefore, it can be inferred that the phosphorus-containing additives do exhibit varying degrees of condensed phase activity (see Table 1). However, the exact extents of this effect cannot be directly gauged from the values of the initial phosphorus loading, or retention, owing to the fact that the char residue can be very inhomogeneous and the exact contributions of the underlying burnt/partially burnt wood towards the residue, therefore, cannot be determined with any certainty.
The initial P loading for the various formulations used for cone calorimetric tests can be calculated, as given below. Furthermore, from the char yields obtained through the cone runs and extent of phosphorus retention in the char residues, the wt % of phosphorus liberated into the vapour phase can be also calculated, as shown below (see also in Table 1). As expected, the liquid additives, owing to their volatility as compared to the solid ones, showed a relatively higher presence in the vapour phase. Furthermore, it can be seen that relatively substantial amounts of phosphorus-containing species from phosphine and the phosphine oxides were also presumably released into the vapour phase through fragments emanating from the thermal pyrolysis in the condensed phase [5]. The chemical environment of the phosphorus moieties retained in the condensed phase can be assessed from the 31 P solid-state NMR (Section 3.1.2 below) [12] and the fragmentation patterns of the additives can be deduced from GC/MS, or pyrolysis-GC/MS (Sections 3.2.1 and 3.2.2, respectively) [17].

Solid-State NMR Spectra
In the following Figures 1-9, the 31 P signals obtained through solid state NMR measurements on powdered char residues collected from the cone experiments are given (see also                      * from 31 P solution-state NMR spectrum-here the protons were decoupled during the acquisition of 31 P NMR, and hence do not show 1 H-31 P coupling patterns; # the major peak from solid-state NMR of the char residue, where the values in the parentheses represent the chemical shift (∂) of the 'shoulder' peak. It is relevant to note here that the 31 P solid state NMR of the char residues were acquired without broad band decoupling of residual protons that might be present in the char residues.
As expected, phosphorus acid species (∂ ~ 0 ppm), or oligomeric phosphate moieties (∂ ~ −10 ppm), are generated from the initial cracking/condensation reactions of AP, DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP [12]. However, cracking of TPP, TPPO and DOPO are bound to produce phenyl, or biphenyl species, and the phosphorus atom is likely to go into vapour phase either in the elemental form and/or as oxide species [16]. Therefore, the signals in the latter cases can be attributed to unburnt phosphine (TPP), or phosphines oxide (TPPO, or DOPO), where the coupling patterns (scalar, including long-range) owing to 1 H-31 P are also evident. The features of such patterns in a solid-state NMR spectrum (i.e., due to any unburnt additive) are likely to be often complicated by the presence of rather prominent spinning side bands (see for example, in case of TPP, TPPO and DEPi). By looking at the complementary information that was gathered through pyrolysis-GC/MS and GC/MS, we were  * from 31 P solution-state NMR spectrum-here the protons were decoupled during the acquisition of 31 P NMR, and hence do not show 1 H-31 P coupling patterns; # the major peak from solid-state NMR of the char residue, where the values in the parentheses represent the chemical shift (∂) of the 'shoulder' peak. It is relevant to note here that the 31 P solid state NMR of the char residues were acquired without broad band decoupling of residual protons that might be present in the char residues.
As expected, phosphorus acid species (∂~0 ppm), or oligomeric phosphate moieties (∂~−10 ppm), are generated from the initial cracking/condensation reactions of AP, DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP [12]. However, cracking of TPP, TPPO and DOPO are bound to produce phenyl, or biphenyl species, and the phosphorus atom is likely to go into vapour phase either in the elemental form and/or as oxide species [16]. Therefore, the signals in the latter cases can be attributed to unburnt phosphine (TPP), or phosphines oxide (TPPO, or DOPO), where the coupling patterns (scalar, including long-range) owing to 1 H-31 P are also evident. The features of such patterns in a solid-state NMR spectrum (i.e., due to any unburnt additive) are likely to be often complicated by the presence of rather prominent spinning side bands (see for example, in case of TPP, TPPO and DEPi). By looking at the complementary information that was gathered through pyrolysis-GC/MS and GC/MS, we were able to formulate some plausible fragmentation pathways in the case of the additives (see in Section 3.2).

Raman Spectroscopy
The structural features of char residues can be deduced from observing the relevant signal intensities in the Raman spectra [11,18,19]. In the present study, we recorded the Raman spectra from representative char residues where the intensities of the graphitic (G band, associated with the vibrations of plane terminal glass carbons' unorganized carbon structure) and amorphous (D band, owing to an E 2g vibrational mode of graphitic sp 2 bonded carbon atoms' graphitic layered structure) were compared [11]. Hence, the ratios of the intensities of the bands (i.e., I G /I D ), as measured through their respective areas, were different for all the test samples, and were indicative of the degree of graphitization of the carbonaceous residues obtained upon burning (Table 3). Generally, higher intensity of the G band with respect to the D band points to a more coherent char structure. The char residue from fish gelatin + TPPO was evidently richer in the graphitic region (ratio = 1.32) as compared to the residues of other formulations, and the corresponding value was the least in the case of fish gelatin + DEPP (ratio = 0.33). In the case of other systems, only fish gelatin + DEBP showed a higher value (ratio = 0.93), as compared with the unmodified substrate (0.73), whereas all other systems generally showed lower values. With a view to obtaining more insight into the thermal cracking of the additives, we carried out some gaseous phase analyses of the volatiles emanating from them using 'hyphenated' techniques, such as GC-MS (for the liquid additives: DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP), or pyrolysis-GC/MS (for solid additives: TPP, TPPO and DOPO). Here it should be noted that thermolysis of these additive under a flaming mode (i.e., under relatively higher heating rates and within lower time scales, and with varying degrees of oxygen ingression) cannot be directly compared to those occurring under a progressive heating according to a predetermined temperature ramp, followed by an electron impact (as in a GC/MS), or under a thermally induced degradation at a preset temperature (in pyrolysis-GC/MS). Albeit, the basic assumption that regardless of the mode and rate of inducing bond cleavages in the additives, the weaker bonds are broken to result in relatively stable species can be considered as valid within reason.
The details of the liquid samples, retention times and major species recorded by the mass spectrometer are given in table below (Table 4). In the case of the liquid samples that underwent fragmentation, the molecular ion peak was only shown up in the case of TEPa, where less conspicuous signals corresponding to [M ± 1] + were evident in the cases of DEPi and TEPa. In the case of the phosphonate additives, such as DEPP and DEBP, the molecular ions initially formed seem to have undergone rapid fragmentation resulting in stable species (with m/z values of 125 and 95 respectively). have undergone rapid fragmentation resulting in stable species (with m/z values of 125 and 95 respectively). have undergone rapid fragmentation resulting in stable species (with m/z values of 125 and 95 respectively).

Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyrolysis-GC/MS)
The temperatures for pyrolysis of the solid organophosphorus compounds were selected on the basis of the first derivatives of their thermograms, in nitrogen at heating rate of 10 °C min −1 and from 30 to 900 °C, as follows: TPP = 288 °C; TPPO = 340 °C; DOPO = 381 °C. The inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH4)2HPO4, was not included in this study as it is assumed to undergo a two-step degradation yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid in the first step (ca. 70 °C), followed by the degradation of the product, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to produce oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen and ammonia (ca. 155 °C) degradation [20].
It is very clear from the GC/MS of TPP and TPPO that the molecular ion initially produced showed typical fragmentation pattern of aromatic phosphine and phosphine oxide (above their normal melting points, but below the corresponding boiling points), as the case may be. However, in the case of DOPO, three distinct peaks were obtained in the chromatogram, and the corresponding mass spectra were indicative of DOPO (retention time = 18.83 min); degradation product of DOPO (retention time = 15.7 min, with fragments from DOPO with m/z values of: 152, 170, 199 and 200); ohydroxybiphenyl (retention time = 13.1 min)-see details in Table 5 below:  Figure 14. Possible fragmentation pattern of DEBP.

Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyrolysis-GC/MS)
The temperatures for pyrolysis of the solid organophosphorus compounds were selected on the basis of the first derivatives of their thermograms, in nitrogen at heating rate of 10 • C min −1 and from 30 to 900 • C, as follows: TPP = 288 • C; TPPO = 340 • C; DOPO = 381 • C. The inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 , was not included in this study as it is assumed to undergo a two-step degradation yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid in the first step (ca. 70 • C), followed by the degradation of the product, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to produce oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen and ammonia (ca. 155 • C) degradation [20].
It is very clear from the GC/MS of TPP and TPPO that the molecular ion initially produced showed typical fragmentation pattern of aromatic phosphine and phosphine oxide (above their normal melting points, but below the corresponding boiling points), as the case may be. However, in the case of DOPO, three distinct peaks were obtained in the chromatogram, and the corresponding mass spectra were indicative of DOPO (retention time = 18.83 min); degradation product of DOPO (retention time = 15.7 min, with fragments from DOPO with m/z values of: 152, 170, 199 and 200); o-hydroxybiphenyl (retention time = 13.1 min)-see details in Table 5 below: Table 5. Retention times and fragmentation features of the various solid additives.

Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Pyrolysis-GC/MS)
The temperatures for pyrolysis of the solid organophosphorus compounds were selected on the basis of the first derivatives of their thermograms, in nitrogen at heating rate of 10 °C min −1 and from 30 to 900 °C, as follows: TPP = 288 °C; TPPO = 340 °C; DOPO = 381 °C. The inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH4)2HPO4, was not included in this study as it is assumed to undergo a two-step degradation yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid in the first step (ca. 70 °C), followed by the degradation of the product, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to produce oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen and ammonia (ca. 155 °C) degradation [20].
It is very clear from the GC/MS of TPP and TPPO that the molecular ion initially produced showed typical fragmentation pattern of aromatic phosphine and phosphine oxide (above their normal melting points, but below the corresponding boiling points), as the case may be. However, in the case of DOPO, three distinct peaks were obtained in the chromatogram, and the corresponding mass spectra were indicative of DOPO (retention time = 18.83 min); degradation product of DOPO (retention time = 15.7 min, with fragments from DOPO with m/z values of: 152, 170, 199 and 200); ohydroxybiphenyl (retention time = 13.1 min)-see details in Table 5 below: Judging primarily from the results of the pyrolysis-GS/MS studies of the solid organophosphorus additives (TPP, TPPO and DOPO), and the corresponding outcomes from GC/MS for the liquid additives, we envisage the following degradation pathways of these compounds (Figures 15 and 16). Judging primarily from the results of the pyrolysis-GS/MS studies of the solid organophosphorus additives (TPP, TPPO and DOPO), and the corresponding outcomes from GC/MS for the liquid additives, we envisage the following degradation pathways of these compounds (Figures 15 and 16). Judging primarily from the results of the pyrolysis-GS/MS studies of the solid organophosphorus additives (TPP, TPPO and DOPO), and the corresponding outcomes from GC/MS for the liquid additives, we envisage the following degradation pathways of these compounds (Figures 15 and 16 Judging primarily from the results of the pyrolysis-GS/MS studies of the solid organophosphorus additives (TPP, TPPO and DOPO), and the corresponding outcomes from GC/MS for the liquid additives, we envisage the following degradation pathways of these compounds (Figures 15 and 16). PO PO P Figure 15. A schematic diagram of production of phosphorus-centred species in the gaseous phase in the case of solid organophosphorus additives.
In the case of the solid additives such as TPP and TPPO, typically above their melting points but below their boiling temperatures, volatilization is first effected followed by the cleavage of the P-Ar bonds to form aromatics, either phenyl or biphenyl compounds, and resulting in the release of P, oxygenated phosphorous moieties in the gaseous phase. Elemental phosphorus and/or oxides are In the case of the solid additives such as TPP and TPPO, typically above their melting points but below their boiling temperatures, volatilization is first effected followed by the cleavage of the P-Ar bonds to form aromatics, either phenyl or biphenyl compounds, and resulting in the release of P, oxygenated phosphorous moieties in the gaseous phase. Elemental phosphorus and/or oxides are found to be active in the vapour phase [7]. Here it should be noted that the presence of phosphorus (as gauged through ICP/OES: Table 1) and the chemical environment of phosphorus bearing moieties in the condensed phase (see the respective 31 P NMR spectrum: in Figures 1-9) clearly indicate that the phosphine, or phosphine oxide as the case may be, are retained as such without undergoing thermal degradation.
In the case of the liquid additives, such as DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP, it appears that the thermal cracking of the side phosphate, or phosphonate, group is favoured through a preferred cyclic intermediate liberating ethene, and the latter can be considered as entropically favourable-see Figure 16 [7]. Furthermore for the liquid additives, especially, with the P-atom in the oxidation state of V, elimination can be considered as very feasible through the six-membered ring intermediate, where as in the case of the phosphite (where the P-atom is in the oxidation state of III) it has to go through a five-membered ring intermediate, or through a six-membered analogue if prior oxidation of P(III) to P(V) is assumed [7,12,21]. It is relevant to note here that there is unequivocal evidence for the presence of phosphorus acid species in the char residues from the corresponding 31 P solid-state NMR (signals centred at ∂~0.0 ppm). the thermal cracking of the side phosphate, or phosphonate, group is favoured through a preferred cyclic intermediate liberating ethene, and the latter can be considered as entropically favourablesee Figure 20 [7]. Furthermore for the liquid additives, especially, with the P-atom in the oxidation state of V, elimination can be considered as very feasible through the six-membered ring intermediate, where as in the case of the phosphite (where the P-atom is in the oxidation state of III) it has to go through a five-membered ring intermediate, or through a six-membered analogue if prior oxidation of P(III) to P(V) is assumed [7,12,21]. It is relevant to note here that there is unequivocal evidence for the presence of phosphorus acid species in the char residues from the corresponding 31 P solid-state NMR (signals centred at ∂ ~ 0.0 ppm).

Conclusions
Through the present work we have endeavoured to decipher the degree, nature and relative predominance of the condensed-and gaseous-phase activities of the different additives through a combination of standard (atomic absorption, solid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopies), and optionally through 'hyphenated' (pyrolysis-GC/MS and GC/MS), techniques. It is to be noted here that the loading of the various phosphorus containing additives was normalized in terms of their molar content (0.016 mols). This in turn has resulted in varying amounts of P-loadings (in wt %). Therefore, no meaningful correlation(s) between the flame retardant performance and the chemical environments and oxidation state of the P atom can be drawn. The influence of the oxidation state, and hence possible variation of the chemical environment, of the P atom in fire retardant formulations is reported elsewhere [1,[21][22][23][24][25]. From the collated empirical data, the following conclusions can be drawn:

•
The inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH4)2HPO4, underwent a two-step degradation, yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid in the first step, followed by the degradation of the product, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to produce oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen and ammonia; • As expected, the liquid additives, owing to their volatility as compared to the solid ones, showed a higher presence in the vapour phase. Furthermore, it can be seen that relatively substantial amounts of phosphorus-containing species from phosphine and the phosphine oxides were also presumably released into the vapour phase through fragments emanating from the thermal pyrolysis in the condensed phase • The 31 P-NMR spectra showed the 'phosphorus' acid species (∂ ~ 0 ppm), or oligomeric phosphate moieties (∂ ~ −10 ppm), are generated from the initial cracking/condensation reactions of AP, DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP. However, cracking of TPP, TPPO and DOPO are bound to produce phenyl, or biphenyl species, and the phosphorus atom is likely to go into vapour phase either in the elemental form and/or as oxide species; Figure 16. A general schematic diagram of production of phosphorus acidic species, in the condensed phase through the elimination of ethene from the ester side arms of the liquid additive.

Conclusions
Through the present work we have endeavoured to decipher the degree, nature and relative predominance of the condensed-and gaseous-phase activities of the different additives through a combination of standard (atomic absorption, solid-state NMR and Raman spectroscopies), and optionally through 'hyphenated' (pyrolysis-GC/MS and GC/MS), techniques. It is to be noted here that the loading of the various phosphorus containing additives was normalized in terms of their molar content (0.016 mols). This in turn has resulted in varying amounts of P-loadings (in wt %). Therefore, no meaningful correlation(s) between the flame retardant performance and the chemical environments and oxidation state of the P atom can be drawn. The influence of the oxidation state, and hence possible variation of the chemical environment, of the P atom in fire retardant formulations is reported elsewhere [1,[21][22][23][24][25]. From the collated empirical data, the following conclusions can be drawn: • The inorganic solid additive, i.e., (NH 4 ) 2 HPO 4 , underwent a two-step degradation, yielding ammonia gas and phosphoric acid in the first step, followed by the degradation of the product, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to produce oxides of phosphorus and nitrogen and ammonia; • As expected, the liquid additives, owing to their volatility as compared to the solid ones, showed a higher presence in the vapour phase. Furthermore, it can be seen that relatively substantial amounts of phosphorus-containing species from phosphine and the phosphine oxides were also presumably released into the vapour phase through fragments emanating from the thermal pyrolysis in the condensed phase • The 31 P-NMR spectra showed the 'phosphorus' acid species (∂~0 ppm), or oligomeric phosphate moieties (∂~−10 ppm), are generated from the initial cracking/condensation reactions of AP, DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP. However, cracking of TPP, TPPO and DOPO are bound to produce phenyl, or biphenyl species, and the phosphorus atom is likely to go into vapour phase either in the elemental form and/or as oxide species; • The Raman spectra exhibited different degrees of graphitization, as revealed by the varying ratios of the areas corresponding to ordered and amorphous domains; • From the complementary information that was gathered though vapour analyses, some probable mechanistic pathways that underpin the condensed-and gaseous-phase activities of the different additives were suggested • In summary, it can be inferred that the organic solid additives (TPP, TPPO and DOPO) are predominantly active in the vapour phase, whereas the liquid additives (DEPi, TEPi, TEPa, DEPP and DEBP) can considered as more active in the condensed phase. The inorganic additive, AP, can assumed to be more active in the condense phase just the liquid additives.
Author Contributions: The corresponding author, A.T., carried out all the essential experiment work, collated the data, carried out the analyses and produced the original draft manuscript. M.A., another doctoral student with us, was also substantially involved in the execution of the necessary laboratory procedures and analytical measurements. P.J. and K.M., who are the supervisors for the students, were responsible for conceptualizing the research idea. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding: This research received no external funding.