Starting from trivalent 10-alkoxy-10H-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrenes, a broad range of DOPO derivatives was synthesized via transesterification with aliphatic alcohols and subsequent Michaelis-Arbuzov rearrangement using catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid methylester. Due to the considerable differences in the nature of the alcohols employed, several procedures for processing them are presented.
Highly soluble 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide-(DOPO)-based diamino hardener (2), bearing its amino groups directly on the DOPO framework, is investigated with respect to its use as a reactive flame retardant in thermosets. A mechanism for decomposition of the corresponding phosphorus-modified epoxy resin system based on a diglycidylether of bisphenol A DGEBA and 2 (DGEBA/2) is proposed and compared to the systems using DGEBA and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfon (DGEBA/DDS) and to a similar system based on the structurally comparable non-reactive DOPO-based compound (DGEBA/DDS/1). Additive 1 changed the decomposition characteristics of the epoxy resin only slightly and phosphorus was released. Incorporating 2 induces two-step decomposition and most of the phosphorus remains in the residue. Furthermore, the fire behaviour of neat epoxy resin systems and a representative carbon fibre-reinforced composite based on DGEBA, DDS and 2 (DGEBA/DDS/2) were examined and compared to that of the analogous composite systems based on DGEBA/DDS and DGEBA/DDS/1. Based on different flame retardancy mechanisms both the reactive compound 2 and the additive compound 1 improve flammability (increase in LOI >13% and achieving V-1 behaviour) of the epoxy resin and composites. Under forced flaming only the flame inhibition of the additive compound 1 acts sufficiently. Lastly, the superior key mechanical properties of the epoxy resin and composite based on 2 are sketched.
PET-P-DOPO is a phosphorus-containing polyester prepared from the glycol ether of the hydroquinone derivative of 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and dimethyl terephthalate. PET-P-DOPO and a blend of PBT with PET-PDOPO were investigated with respect to pyrolysis and fire behavior. PET-P-DOPO achieves a V-0 rating in the UL 94 test and exhibits a high LOI of 39.3%. The outstanding flame-retardant properties of PET-P-DOPO are the result of three different mechanisms (flame inhibition, charring and a protection effect of the intumescent char) that are active in PET-P-DOPO. The fire load and the peak of heat release rate (pHRR) are reduced to 34% and 17%, respectively. The char exhibits an intumescent multicellular structure enabling it to act as an efficient protection layer. As PET-P-DOPO is immiscible with PBT, the blend shows a lower breaking elongation than pure PBT. Compared to pure PET-P-DOPO, the flame retardancy of the blend is decreased according to the fraction of PET-P-DOPO used. Nevertheless, the flame-retardancy of PET-P-DOPO in the blend was good enough to compete with PBT flame-retarded by AlPi-Et (aluminum diethylphosphinate) that was used as a Benchmark.
Novel DOPO-based flame retardants in high-performance carbon fibre epoxy composites for aviation
(2011)
Two novel, halogen-free, phosphorus-based oligomeric flame retardants are investigated in the commercial epoxy resin RTM6 and ~70 wt.% carbon fibre RTM6 composites (RTM6-CF) with respect to pyrolysis and fire behaviour. The flame retardants are based on 9,10-dihydro-9-oxy-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) units linked to the star-shaped aliphatic ground body tetra-[(acryloyloxy)ethyl] pentarythrit (DOPP), or heterocyclic tris-[(acryloyloxy)ethyl] isocyanurate (DOPI), respectively. The glass transition temperature is reduced by adding DOPP and DOPI, but the mechanical properties of the composites (e.g. interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and Gc in mode I and II) remain unchanged. Decomposition models are proposed based on mass loss, evolved gas analysis (TGFTIR) and condensed product analysis (hot stage cell within FTIR). The fire behaviour is investigated comprehensively (UL 94, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter). Both flame retardants act in the gas phase through flame inhibition and in the condensed phase through charring. The UL 94 of RTM6 is improved from HB to V-1 and V-0; the LOI from 25% to 3438%. Peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat evolved (THE) are lowered by 31-49% and 4044%, respectively. Adding CF increases the residue, reduces the THE, but suppresses the charring due to RTM6 and flame retardants. Thus the THE of RTM6-CF is reduced by about 25% when DOPI and DOPP are added. However, UL 94: V-0 and LOI of 45% and 48% are achieved with ~0.6 wt.% phosphorus.