Enhanced Fire Safety of Rigid Polyurethane Foam via Synergistic Effect of Phosphorus/Nitrogen Compounds and Expandable Graphite

In order to explore highly efficient flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF), phosphorus/nitrogen compounds and expandable graphite (EG) were successfully incorporated into RPUF by a free one-spot method. The combustion results showed that the fire safety of the RPUF samples was remarkably improved by the addition of phosphoric/nitrogen compounds and EG. With the incorporation of 22.4 wt.% phosphorus/nitrogen compounds and 3.2 wt.% EG, the RPUF composites achieved UL-94 V-0 rating. Besides, the total heat release and total smoke release of RPUF composites were reduced by 29.6% and 32.4% respectively, compared to those of the pure RPUF sample. PO• and PO2• together with nonflammable gaseous products were evolved from phosphoric/nitrogen compounds in the gas phase, which quenched the flammable free radicals in the matrix and diluted the concentration of combustible gaseous products generated from PRUF during combustion. The compact char residues which acted as excellent physical barriers were formed by catalysis of EG and phosphoric/nitrogen compounds in the condense phase. The fire hazard of RPUF was significantly reduced by the synergistic effect of phosphorus-nitrogen compounds and EG. This work provides a promising strategy to enhance the fire safety of RPUF.

Synthesis, characterization and thermal degradation kinetics of azomethine-based halogen-free flame-retardant polyphosphonates

In this study, azomethine polyphosphonates were synthesized by solution polycondensation of phenylphosphonic dichloride with various azomethine diols such as [4-(4-hydroxy phenyl) iminomethyl] phenol, [(4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy phenyl) iminomethyl)] phenol and [4-(4-hydroxy-3-ethoxy phenyl) iminomethyl] phenol using triethylamine catalyst at ambient temperature. The structure of the synthesized polymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and 1H-, 13C- and 31P- nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Thermal properties of the polymers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry under nitrogen atmosphere. The TGA data showed that the synthesized polyphosphonates produce high char yield at 600°C due to the presence of phosphorous atom in the polymer chain and hence have good flame-retardant properties. One of the synthesized polyphosphonate was blended with commercial diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) resin in various weight percentage and cured with commercial curing agent triethylene tetramine (TETA). The polyphosphonates-blended epoxy thermosets have tensile strength in the range of 5–41 MPa and the percentage of elongation at breaks was 4–18. It was found that the incorporation of polyphosphonates into epoxy thermoset decreased the tensile strength from 41 MPa to 5 MPa, whereas the elongation at break value increased with increase in the weight percentage of polyphosphonate. The influence of polyphosphonates on the flame retardancy of blended thermosets was examined by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and vertical burning (UL-94) tests and found that the polymer samples achieved an increased UL-94 rating and the LOI values were in the range of 24–26. Broido and Horowitz–Metzger methods have been used to study the thermal degradation kinetic parameters.