Kinetic Study of Power Strip Enclosure Materials Pyrolysis Made from the Fire Retardant Polypropylene Using Non-Isothermal TGA Analysis

Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetic study of power strip enclosure made from fire retardant polypropylene in air/nitrogen at different heating rates was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. To describe the pyrolysis behaviour, the modified Coast Redfern method was used. The phenomenon was described by different models indicating that the pyrolysis followed the same pyrolysis mechanism in the corresponding stages at different heating rates of 10°C/min and 20°C/min, namely the phase-phase reaction mechanism, the random nucleation and the growth mechanism, respectively. When the heating rate was at 30°C/min, the pyrolysis mechanism in the corresponding stage was inconsistent. In addition, in air, the total activation energy of the material was greater than that in nitrogen, and the overall thermal stability of the material in air was better. The study will provide useful information for fire departments to prevent, suppress and investigate related power strip fires caused by electrical malfunction.