Preparation of flame-retardant polyethylene foam of open-cell type by radiation grafting of vinyl phosphonate oligomer

Flame-retardant polyethylene foam was successfully obtained by grafting a vinyl phosphonate oligomer onto polyethylene foam of an open-cell type using a simultaneous radiation grafting technique. The foam was impregnated with the oligomer and irradiated in a nitrogen atmosphere with an electron beam. The grafted foam thus obtained was found to pass the three most severe flammability tests that have to be cleared when the foam is to be used for materials where high flame-retardant property is required. No hydrogen cyanide was detected in burning exhaust gas of the grafted foam. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.