Flame retarding polymer nanocomposites: Synergism, cooperation, antagonism

Effect of Magnesium Hydroxide and Aluminum Hydroxide on the Thermal Stability, Latent Heat and Flammability Properties of Paraffin/HDPE Phase Change Blends

In this study, paraffin was selected as the phase change material (PCM) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the supporting material to prepare a flame-retardant PCM system. The system consisted of paraffin, HDPE, expanded graphite (EG), magnesium hydroxide (MH) and aluminum hydroxide (ATH). The thermal stability and flame retardancy were studied by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cone calorimeter test (CONE). The SEM proved that the addition of MH and ATH can produce an oxide film on the surface of the composite material and form a "physical barrier" with the char layer, generated by the expansion of EG, preventing the transfer of heat and oxygen. The TGA test showed that, compared with other flame-retardant systems, the materials with added MH and ATH have a higher thermal stability and carbonization ability, and the amount of char residue has increased from 17.6% to 32.9%, which reduces the fire risk of the material. The flame retardant effect is obvious. In addition, the addition of MH and ATH has no significant effect on the phase transition temperature and latent heat value of PCMs. The CONE data further confirmed that MH and ATH can work with EG to prevent heat release, reduce the total heat release rate (THR) value and effectively suppress the generation of smoke, CO and CO₂. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) value also decreased, from 1570.2 kW/m² to 655.9 kW/m².

A novel and facile strategy for highly flame retardant polymer foam composite materials: Transforming silicone resin coating into silica self-extinguishing layer

In this study, a novel strategy was developed to fabricate highly flame retardant polymer foam composite materials coated by synthesized silicone resin (SiR) polymer via a facile dip-coating processing. Applying the SiR polymer coating, the mechanical property and thermal stability of SiR-coated polymer foam (PSiR) composites are greatly enhanced without significantly altering their structure and morphology. The minimum oxygen concentration to support the combustion of foam materials is greatly increased, i.e. from LOI 14.6% for pure foam to LOI 26-29% for the PSiR composites studied. Especially, adjusting pendant group to SiOSi group ratio (R/Si ratio) of SiRs produces highly flame retardant PSiR composites with low smoke toxicity. Cone calorimetry results demonstrate that 44-68% reduction in the peak heat release rate for the PSiR composites containing different R/Si ratios over pure foam is achieved by the presence of appropriate SiR coating. Digital and SEM images of post-burn chars indicate that the SiR polymer coating can be transformed into silica self-extinguishing porous layer as effective inorganic barrier effect, thus preserving the polymer foam structure from fire. Our results show that the SiR dip-coating technique is a promising strategy for producing flame retardant polymer foam composite materials with improved mechanical properties.

Melt-Flow Behaviours of Thermoplastic Materials under Fire Conditions: Recent Experimental Studies and Some Theoretical Approaches

Polymeric materials often exhibit complex combustion behaviours encompassing several stages and involving solid phase, gas phase and interphase. A wide range of qualitative, semi-quantitative and quantitative testing techniques are currently available, both at the laboratory scale and for commercial purposes, for evaluating the decomposition and combustion behaviours of polymeric materials. They include, but are not limited to, techniques such as: thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), oxygen bomb calorimetry, limiting oxygen index measurements (LOI), Underwriters Laboratory 94 (UL-94) tests, cone calorimetry, etc. However, none of the above mentioned techniques are capable of quantitatively deciphering the underpinning physiochemical processes leading to the melt flow behaviour of thermoplastics. Melt-flow of polymeric materials can constitute a serious secondary hazard in fire scenarios, for example, if they are present as component parts of a ceiling in an enclosure. In recent years, more quantitative attempts to measure the mass loss and melt-drip behaviour of some commercially important chain- and step-growth polymers have been accomplished. The present article focuses, primarily, on the experimental and some theoretical aspects of melt-flow behaviours of thermoplastics under heat/fire conditions.