Tri(acryloyloxyethyl) phosphate (TAEP) was blended in different ratios with epoxy acrylate EB600 and polyurethane acrylate EB270 to obtain a series of UV curable flame retardant resins. The thermal degradation mechanisms of their cured films in air were studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis, in situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and direct pyrolysis/mass spectrometry measurements. The results showed that the phosphate group in TAEP first degraded to form poly(phosphoric acid) before the degradation of EB600. Then, the formed poly(phosphoric acid) effectively promoted the conversion of EB600 to form char, which prevented the sample from further burning. However, urethane group in EB270 degraded simultaneously with phosphate group in TAEP, leading to not effectively increase the conversion of EB270 to char during the thermal degradation. It was thus found that the addition of TAEP more effectively improved the thermal stability, flame retardance, and the char yield during combustion of EB600 than those of E13270. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.