Highly effective flame-retarded polyester diol with synergistic effects for waterborne polyurethane application

In this article, a novel bi-reactive flame retardant (FRD) was successfully synthesized for waterborne polyurethane (WPU). The chemical structures of FRD were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra and ¹H and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance. Then, the FRD was incorporated into polyurethane backbone to prepare a series of flame-retarded WPU (FRWPU). The flammability characteristics of FRWPU were measured by limited oxygen index (LOI), UL-94, and cone calorimeter (CCT) tests. The FRPWU-7 had a high LOI value of 30.5% with UL94 V-0 rating. Moreover, the CCT values indicated that FRD induced the gaseous phase quenching effect of phosphorus-containing free radicals derived from the decomposed phosphaphenanthrene group on the gas-phase flame retardancy. Scanning electron micrographs and Raman spectra exhibited that FRD promoted the charring formation of phosphorus-rich char layer with graphitized surface and honeycomb-like intumescent structure in WPU matrix during burning. This study provides a new way to design a novel reactive P–P flame retardant consisted of the phosphaphenanthrene group and intumescent flame retardant for WPU application. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48444.