Flame retardancy of polymers

This article was published in Polymer Degradation and Stability, 16 June 2012.

Abstract

A novel polymeric intumescent flame retardant containing phosphorous-nitrogen (PSPTR) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR. Moreover, a new IntumescentFlameRetardant (IFR) system, which was composed of PSPTR and Phenol Formaldehyde Resin (PF), was used to impart flame retardancy for ABS. Flammability properties of ABS/IFR composites were investigated by Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and Vertical Burning Test (UL-94), respectively. The results showed that when the total addition content was 30wt%, the weight ratio of PSPTR to PF is 1:1, the LOI value of ABS/IFR reached 28.2, and UL-94 reached V-1 rating. A distinct synergistic flameretardant effect exists between PSPTR and PF. The TGA data showed that the IFR (PSPTR/PF=1:1, wt %) had three weight-loss stages and had a high residue of 50.21wt% at 700 ºC. The thermaldegradation process of PSPTR and char-forming mechanism of IFR was studied by thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-IR) detailedly.