The flame retardant behaviors and synergistic effect of expandable graphite and dimethyl methylphosphonate in rigid polyurethane foams

A series of flame‐retardant rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) containing dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and expandable graphite (EG) were prepared by box‐foaming. The RPUFs were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The decomposition process of DMMP was investigated by Pyrolysis‐Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (Py‐GC/MS). Accordingly, their flame retardant behaviors and mechanism were also discussed. The results show that the DMMP/EG system can linearly enhance the LOI value from 19.2% of the pure RPUF to 33.0% of RPUFs containing 16 wt% flame retardant. In addition, the DMMP/EG system also remarkably increases yields of the residual char and drastically decreases the peak value of heat release rate (PHRR), heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), total smoke release (TSR), and the yields of CO (COY). In the flame retardant RPUFs, when the matrix is ignited, the flame retardant DMMP should be decomposed to gaseous PO₂ fragments, which can inhibit free radical chain reaction of flammable alkyl free radical from the decomposed matrix; whereas the flame retardant EG can rapidly expand and form loose and worm‐like expanding graphite char layer accordingly, which can hinder the heat transmission to the inner matrix and reduce decomposing velocity of matrix. After the combination of the two flame retardant effects, the DMMP/EG flame retardant system provides the matrix with better flame retardant effects than one of them does. Namely, it shows excellent gas‐condensed bi‐phase synergistic effect. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:301–309, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Addition flame‐retardant effect of nonreactive phosphonate and expandable graphite in rigid polyurethane foams

A series of flame‐retardant rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) containing nonreactive phosphonate (5‐ethyl‐2‐methyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaphosphorinan‐5‐yl) methyl dimethyl phosphonate P‐oxide (EMD) and expandable graphite (EG) were prepared by water blown. The flame‐retardant properties and mechanism of EMD/EG on RPUFs were systematically investigated. The EMD/EG system effectively increased the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value and decreased the values of total heat release (THR), av‐effective heat of combustion (EHC), pk‐heat release rate (HRR), total smoke release (TSR) of RPUFs. The impact values of LOI, THR, and av‐EHC resulted by EMD/EG system are nearly equal to the sum of the impact values by EMD and EG individually in RPUFs, which implies the addition flame‐retardant effect from EMD and EG. EMD alone exerted excellent gas‐phase flame‐retardant effect by releasing PO fragments with quenching effect. The firm residue produced by EMD combined well with the loose and worm‐like expanded graphite from EG further to form compact and expanded char layer, which brought excellent barrier effect and filtration effect to matrix. That's why pk‐HRR and TSR values of RPUF reduced. Depending on the simultaneous actions of EMD/EG system in gas phase and condensed phase during combustion, the flame‐retardant effects from nonreactive phosphonate and EG on RPUFs were added together. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45960.     

Flame‐retardant and mechanical properties of high‐density rigid polyurethane foams filled with decabrominated dipheny ethane and expandable graphite

The article reported the flame‐retardant and the mechanical properties of expandable graphite (EG), an intumescent type, and decabrominated dipheny ethane (DBDPE), a gas‐phase type of flame‐retardant‐containing high‐density rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF) with a constant density of 0.5g/cm³. The results indicated that both EG and DBDPE could effectively interdict the burning of RPUF, besides, the EG exhibited more effective flame retardancy than the DBDPE. When the flame‐retardant loadings were 20 wt %, the LOI value of DBDPE‐filled RPUF increased to 33 vol %, while, surprisingly, the EG‐filled RPUF reached 41 vol %. Unfortunately, when they were both simultaneously added into RPUF, there was not any flame‐retardant synergistic effect. Although EG had outstanding flame retardancy, the compressive strength and modulus of 20 wt % EG‐filled RPUF dropped to only 9.1MPa and 229.7MPa respectively, which were lower than those of DBDPE (12.4 MPa and 246.8 MPa). The phenomena were ascribed to the different flame‐retardant mechanisms of EG and DBDPE, which were verified by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observation of the burned surfaces. Besides, the dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) demonstrated that the additions of EG and DBDPE made the glass transition temperature shift to the high temperatures, and the EG‐filled RPUF had the higher storage modulus. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Flame retardancy of different‐sized expandable graphite particles for high‐density rigid polyurethane foams

The effects of expandable graphite (EG) of different particle sizes, on the fire‐retardant properties of high‐density rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) (0.45 g cm^?3) were studied. Samples of EG with different particle sizes were obtained by pulverization in an ultra‐high‐speed mixer for 4 and 13 min, respectively. It was shown that as received (EG0) and 4 min pulverized EG (EG4) efficiently improved the fire‐retardant properties of RPUF composites, while 13 min pulverized EG (EG13) did not. The char of the burned composites filled with EG0 and EG4 covered the whole surface of the samples and formed a complete physical barrier. This barrier material prevented combustible gases from feeding the flame and also isolated oxygen efficiently from the burning material. EG13 did not produce enough char to cover the whole surface of the burning sample, resulting in poor fire‐retardant property of the RPUF composites. Thermal degradation tests of the foams by thermogravimetric analysis indicated that EG showed negligible effects on the thermal stability of the RPUFs. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synergistic effect of expandable graphite and aluminum hypophosphite on flame‐retardant properties of rigid polyurethane foam

A series of flame retarding rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) composites based on expandable graphite (EG) and aluminum hypophosphite (AHP) were prepared by the one‐pot method. The properties were characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, cone calorimeter test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), real‐time Fourier transform‐infrared spectra (RT‐FT‐IR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), etc. The results indicate that both EG and AHP could enhance the flame retardency of RPUF composites. Besides, the flame retardant effect of EG was better than that of AHP. The results also show that partial substitution of EG with AHP could improve the flame retardency of RPUF, and EG and AHP presented an excellent synergistic effect on flame retardancy. What is more, compared with RPUF/20EG and RPUF/20AHP, the heat release rate (HRR) and total heat release (THR) of RPUF/15EG/5AHP were lower.TGA results indicate that partial substitution of EG with AHP could improve the char residue which provided better flame retardancy for RPUF composites. The thermal degradation process of RPUF composites and the chemical component of the char residue were investigated by RT‐FT‐IR and XPS. And the results prove that RPUF/15EG/5AHP had higher heat resistance in the later stage. Compared with the RPUF composites filled with EG, a better cell structure and mechanical properties were observed with the substitution of AHP for part of EG. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42842.     

四元复合体系在硬质聚氨酯泡沫材料中的逐级释放阻燃行为研究

以甲基膦酸二甲酯（DMMP）、10-（2,5-二羟基甲苯）-10-氢-9-氧杂-10-磷酰杂菲-10-氧化物（DOPO-HQ）、可膨胀石墨（EG）和氢氧化铝（ATH）构建了四元阻燃复合体系,并通过热失重分析仪（TG）、锥形量热仪、极限氧指数分析仪等研究了其在硬质聚氨酯泡沫（RPUF）中的阻燃行为。结果表明,四元阻燃体系能够在较宽温度区间内发挥逐级释放的协同阻燃效应;DOPO-HQ能够与EG/DMMP/ATH三元阻燃体系形成加合阻燃效应,使得RPUF复合材料的极限氧指数（LOI）提升至30.8%;与采用EG/DMMP/ATH三元阻燃体系的RPUF复合材料相比,采用加入DOPO-HQ的四元阻燃体系的RPUF复合材料的热释放速率峰值（PHRR）、总热释放量（THR）、总烟释放量（TSR）均有所下降,残炭率得到了进一步提升,说明DOPO-HQ与EG/DMMP/ATH所构建的四元阻燃体系在成炭性方面具有协同效应;此外,通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对残炭进行表征,验证了四元阻燃体系在凝聚相中能够发挥优异的成炭阻隔效应,并能够在燃烧的初期、中期和末期发挥逐级释放阻燃效应。     

Effect of zinc oxide on properties of phenolic foams/halogen‐free flame retardant system

A halogen‐free flame retardant system consisting of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as an acid source, blowing agent, pentaerythritol (PER) as a carbonific agent and zinc oxide (ZnO) as a synergistic agent, was used in this work to enhance flame retardancy of phenolic foams. ZnO was incorporated into flame retardant formulation at different concentrations to investigate the flammability of flame retardant composite phenolic foams (FRCPFs). The synergistic effects of ZnO on FRCPFs were evaluated by limited oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimeter tests, and images of residues. Results showed that the flame retardant significantly increased the LOI of FRCPFs. Compared with PF, heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), effective heat of combustion (EHC), production or yield of carbon monoxide (COP or COY) and Oxygen consumption (O₂C) of FRCPFs all remarkably decreased. However specific extinction area (SEA) and total smoke release (TSR) significantly increased, which agreed with the gas‐phase flame retardancy mechanism of the flame retardant system. The results indicated that FRCPFs have excellent fire‐retardant performance and less smoke release. And the bending and compression strength were decreased gradually with the increase of ZnO. The comprehensive properties of FRCPFs were better when the amount of ZnO was 1～1.5%. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42730.     

Research on properties of rigid polyurethane foam with heteroaromatic and brominated benzyl polyols

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) were prepared with specific heteroaromatic and brominated benzyl polyols. The mechanical properties and thermal stability were studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The limiting oxygen index (LOI) was used to investigate the flame retardancy of the RPUFs. The results showed that the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the RPUF prepared by heteroaromatic polyol was 182°C, demonstrating an improved thermal stability for this specific heteroaromatic polyol. Brominated benzyl polyol exhibited less negative influence on mechanical properties of the RPUFs at the same time of improving the flame retardancy. The LOI values increased with an increase in the brominated polyol content to 27.5%, and the char‐forming ability of the RPUF improved; the char residue rate reached 12.6% at 700°C, but it was only 6.2% without the flame retardant. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy‐dispersive spectrometry (EDS) verified that the mechanism of flame retardancy was due to a synergistic effect of the gas phase and the condensed phase. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42349.     

Influence of the pentaerythritol phosphate melamine salt content on the combustion and thermal decomposition process of intumescent flame‐retardant ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer composites

Pentaerythritol phosphate melamine salt (PPMS) as a single‐molecule intumescent fire retardant was synthesized and characterized. The influence of the PPMS content on the combustion and thermal decomposition processes of intumescent‐flame‐retardant (IFR) ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) composites was studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurement, UL 94 rating testing, cone calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The LOI and UL 94 rating results illustrate that PPMS used in EVA improved the flame retardancy of the EVA composites. The cone calorimetry test results show that the addition of PPMS significantly decreased the heat‐release rate, total heat release, and smoke‐production rate and enhanced the residual char fire performance of the EVA composites. The IFR–EVA3 composite showed the lowest heat‐release and smoke‐production rates and the highest char residue; this means that the IFR–EVA3 composite had the best flame retardancy. The thermogravimetry results show that the IFR–EVA composites had more residual char than pure EVA; the char residue yield increased with increasing PPMS content. The analysis results for the char residue structures also illustrated that the addition of PPMS into the EVA resin helped to enhance the fire properties of the char layer and improve the flame retardancy of the EVA composites. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42148.     

Enhanced fire behavior of rigid polyurethane foam by intumescent flame retardants

Using expandable graphite (EG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as flame retardants, we prepared two series of polyisocyanurate–polyurethane (PIR–PUR) foams (i.e., EG foams filled with different amounts of EG alone and APEG foams containing different amounts of expanded EG and APP) and evaluated the effect of the additives on the physical–mechanical property, fire behavior and thermal stability of the foams based on compressive strength test, limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimeter test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The addition of EG alone or both EG and APP into the foam greatly influences the physical–mechanical property. The compressive strength of APEG foams is closely related to the apparent density. The LOI value showed good improvement in both EG and APEG foams. The addition of APP in APEG foams gave better fire behavior than the EG foams with an obvious decrease in PHRR and increase in residue. In addition, the TGA curves illustrated that APP might be an effective charring agent to promote char formation. The SEM results showed that the incorporation of APP and EG allowed the formation of a cohesive and dense char layer, which inhibited the transfer of heat and combustible gas and increased the thermal stability of PIR‐PUR. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

三聚氰胺氰尿酸盐阻燃聚氨酯硬泡

将三聚氰胺氰尿酸盐(MCA)作为阻燃剂,采用一步全水发泡法,制备一系列硬质聚氨酯泡沫/三聚氰胺氰尿酸盐复合材料(RPUF/MCA),采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、热重分析(TG)、极限氧指数(LOI)、UL-94垂直燃烧、烟密度测试、傅立叶红外光谱(FT-IR)及拉曼光谱表征,研究了MCA对硬质聚氨酯泡沫(RPUF)泡孔结构、热稳定性、阻燃性及燃烧烟气密度的影响。研究表明,MCA能够显著提高RPUF/MCA的阻燃性能,30份的MCA使RPUF/MCA30达到UL-94 V-1级别,极限氧指数达到22.0%。热重测试结果表明,MCA的添加使成炭率降低;同时发现,MCA的添加降低了RPUF/MCA泡沫复合材料的初始热分解温度和复合材料的燃烧烟气密度,有效地提高了复合材料火灾安全性能。     

阻燃硬质聚氨酯泡沫塑料垂直火蔓延特性研究

通过一步合成法制备了阻燃硬质聚氨酯泡沫,自主搭建保温材料火蔓延实验台,采用中小尺寸实验对比研究了阻燃及非阻燃硬质聚氨酯的垂直火蔓延特性,分析了火焰结构特性、火蔓延速度、火焰温度、质量损失速率等参数的变化规律。结果表明,火蔓延过程中,材料表面均出现了炭化现象,垂直双面燃烧过程中聚氨酯纯样RPUF燃烧最剧烈,阻燃剂膨胀石墨(EG)、次磷酸铝(AHP)和二乙基次膦酸铝(ADP)的加入,抑制了材料的燃烧和蔓延,使材料燃烧的火蔓延速度、质量损失速率及温度等参数都相应降低。RPUF/AHP5垂直双面火蔓延过程中,火焰稳定性差,在20 s后出现熄灭现象,原因是阻燃剂次磷酸铝(RPUF/AHP5)受热挥发出难燃气体。AHP降解后形成的含磷化合物可促进聚氨酯分子链成炭,导致产生熄灭现象。而RPUF/ADP5火蔓延过程中,同样出现了熄灭现象,其熄灭的程度低于阻燃剂次磷酸铝(RPUF/AHP5)试样。RPUF/EG5火蔓延过程中试样表面温度存在两个峰值,由于RPUF/EG5燃烧生成的炭层不稳定所致。当温度高于400℃时炭层被迅速氧化,热量穿透炭层使内部未燃样品热解,生成温度的第二个峰值。     

Flame retardancy of hollow glass microsphere/rigid polyurethane foams in the presence of expandable graphite

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF) filled with various loadings of expandable graphite (EG) or/and hollow glass microspheres (HGM) were prepared by cast molding. The flame retardant properties of these composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), horizontal and vertical burning tests. The composite with 10 wt % HGM and 20 wt % EG had the best flame retardant properties, and its LOI value reached 30 vol %. The addition of an appropriate loading of HGM improved the compressive strength and modulus of RPUF and EG/RPUF. When the HGM content arrived at 10 wt %, the compressive strength and modulus of the composites reached the maximum value. The dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that the addition of EG and HGM made the glass transition temperature shift to a higher temperature, and 10 wt % EG and 10 wt % HGM filled RPUF had the highest storage modulus. The scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observation indicates that the additives led to the decrease in the cell size. In addition, the flame retardant mechanism, the thermal properties, the burned surfaces and the interface surfaces were elucidated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Flame resistance and foaming properties of NBR compounds with halogen‐free flame retardants

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foams compounded with various halogen‐free flame retardants were prepared. The influence of nonhalogen flame retardants on the flame resistance and foaming properties of the NBR compounds were investigated. The foaming properties (expandability 980%–1050%, closed‐cell structure) of NBR compounds with expandable graphite (EG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) flame retardants were similar to the NBR base compounds which contained primarily aluminum hydroxide (ATH). The heat release capacity (HRC) ranged from 10 to 74 J/g‐K, the average heat release rate (A‐HRR) ranged from 8 to 60 kW/m², and the total heat release (THR) ranged from 2.6 to 7.3 MJ/m² for the nonhalogenated NBR foams with closed‐cell structure and were significantly decreased upon increasing the amounts of flame retardants. This reduction is attributed to the hard char formation and production of water from the interaction with ATH. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) and time to ignition (TTI) show opposite results. The smoke density (0.050–0.037) of the NBR foams with EG flame retardant was decreased when compared to the NBR foam (0.107). The EG flame retardant was more effective than the phosphorus/nitrogen flame retardants in reducing the HRR and smoke density. The use of both ATH and EG is very effective in improving flame resistance. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Halogen Free flame retardant rigid polyurethane foam with a novel phosphorus−nitrogen intumescent flame retardant

A novel phosphorous‐nitrogen containing intumescent flame retardant, toluidine spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphonate (TSPB), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Flame retardant rigid polyurethane foams (TSPB‐RPUF) were prepared by using TSPB. The flame retardancy of TSPB on rigid polyurethane foams (RPUF) was investigated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FTIR. The results showed TSPB exhibited better compatibility with RPUF and lesser negative influence on the mechanical properties of TSPB‐RPUF. When the content of TSPB was 30 pph, the LOI of TSPB‐RPUF could reach 26.5%, and a UL‐94 V‐0 rating was achieved. Furthermore, the TSPB‐RPUF exhibited an outstanding water resistance that it could still obtain a V‐0 rating after water soaking. TGA showed the charring ability of RPUF was relatively poor, However, the residual weight of TSPB‐RPUF was improved greatly. SEM and FTIR indicated the intumescent chars formed from TSPB‐RPUF were compact and smooth, which was a critical factor for protecting the substrate material from burning. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39581.     

The flammability of expandable polystyrene foams coated with melamine modified urea formaldehyde resin

Urea formaldehyde resin (UF) was modified by introducing melamine during the condensation in order to reduce the amount of free formaldehyde and increase the solid content. The melamine modified UF (MUF) was firstly mixed with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) and then coated on the surface of pre‐expanded polystyrene (PS) particles to prepare flame retardant expandable PS (EPS) foams. The flammability of EPS foam samples was characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 vertical burning and cone calorimeter tests, and the results indicated that the peak heat release rate was significantly reduced from 406 to 49 kW/m² and LOI value could reach 36.3 with V‐0 rating in UL‐94 test after coated with IFR. The smoke density test indicated that the maximum smoke density was decreased by the addition of IFR. Thermal analysis suggested that the thermal stability and char formation were significantly improved by the presence of coated flame retardants. The residual char observation revealed that MUF and IFR were beneficial to form integrated char layers with hollow stents, which could be the main reason for the improvement of flame retardant properties. The mechanical properties of flame retardant EPS foams can still meet the standard requirements for industrial applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44423.     

Synthesis and synergistic flame-retardant effects of rigid polyurethane foams used reactive DOPO-based polyols combination with expandable graphite

Flame retardant rigid polyurethane foams (FR-RPFs) were prepared by a one-pot and free-rise method with reactive DOPO-based polyols and expandable graphite (EG) as flame retardants. The flame retardancy, thermal stability and morphological of FR-RPFs were investigated by some characterization testing techniques. Less than 10 wt% EG incorporated in the FR-RPF-0 can improve the mechanical strength due to forming a chemical bond between FR-RPF and EG. With addition of 1.5 wt% P and 12.5 wt% EG, the FR-RPF achieved the LOI of above 30%, meeting the standard of combustible stage B₁. Thermal stability and residual mass of FR-RPFs effectively increased as the increase EG by TGA analysis. EG could help to form a more thermally stable and compact char layer during combustion by SEM analysis. Cone calorimeter tests indicated that the obvious synergistic flame-retardant effects between DOPO-based polyols and EG could be concluded in FR-RPFs. The co-existence of DOPO-based polyols enabled EG adhere more smoke fragments and the combination of DOPO-based polyols and EG better strengthened char layer, so as to enhance the barrier and protective effect of residue. The synergistic flame-retardant effects from the combination system of DOPO-based polyols/EG endowed themselves with high flame-retardant efficiency.     

Flame‐retardant properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/wood flour composites filled with expandable graphite and ammonium polyphosphate

Expandable graphite (EG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were used to improve the flame retardancy of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene based wood–plastic composites (WPCs). A synergistic effect between EG and APP on the flame retardancy of the WPCs was proposed. The results show that the highest limited oxygen index (LOI) of 34.2% and a V‐0 rating were achieved when the ratio of EG to APP 12.5:7.5; this comprised 20 wt % of the total amount. However, LOI values of the samples with EG and APP alone were only 30.5 and 24.5%, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the flame retardants improved the amount of residue. The EG and EG/APP additives greatly decreased the peak heat release rate and suppressed smoke according to cone calorimetry testing. The scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the surface of the wormlike char was covered with a granular substance, which may have been the viscous phosphoric acid or poly(phosphoric acid) decomposed from APP. The flame‐retardant additives worsened the mechanical properties of the WPCs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40281.     

Effects of expandable graphite and ammonium polyphosphate on the flame‐retardant and mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foams

In this work, the effect of expandable graphite (EG) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) on the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of the rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) was studied. The results indicated that both EG and APP could effectively improve the flame retardancy of RPUF, while the retardancy of EG was better than APP. When the flame‐retardant loading was 15 wt %, the limited oxygen index (LOI) values of APP‐ and EG‐filled RPUF were 24.5 and 32 vol %, respectively. According to the LOI test, the optimal ratio of APP to EG in RPUF composites was 1 : 1 by weight, at which the LOI value of 15 wt % (APP + EG)/RPUF was 30.5 vol %. Thermal degradation test of RPUF composites by thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the addition of APP and EG to RPUF could lead to an increase in the amount of high‐temperature residue. Under the same conditions, the residue amount of EG/RPUF was less than that of APP/RPUF at the same temperature. Compression test and dynamic thermal mechanical analysis indicated that both the compressive strength and modulus decreased at a certain extent with the EG‐ or APP‐filled into RPUF, respectively, but with the mixture of EG and APP added into RPUF, the mechanical properties of these materials increased. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Preparation of a chitosan‐based flame‐retardant synergist and its application in flame‐retardant polypropylene

A novel flame‐retardant synergist, chitosan/urea compound based phosphonic acid melamine salt (HUMCS), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ³¹P‐NMR. Subsequently, HUMCS was added to a fire‐retardant polypropylene (PP) compound containing an intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) system to improve its flame‐retardant properties. The PP/IFR/HUMCS composites were characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests, vertical burning tests (UL‐94 tests), microscale combustion calorimetry tests, and thermogravimetric analysis to study the combustion behavior and thermal stability. The addition of 3 wt % HUMCS increased the LOI from 31.4 to 33.0. The addition of HUMCS at a low additive amount reduced the peak heat‐release rate, total heat release, and heat‐release capacity obviously. Furthermore, scanning electron micrographs of char residues revealed that HUMCS could prevent the IFR–PP composites from forming a dense and compact multicell char, which could effectively protect the substrate material from combusting. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40845.