A comprehensive characterization of the thermal and the fire behaviour is presented for polypropylene (PP) flax compounds containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and expandable graphite as fire retardants. Thermogravimetry coupled with an evolved gas analysis (TG-FTIR) was performed to ensure a significant thermal analysis. The fire response under forced flaming conditions was studied using a cone calorimeter. The external heat flux was varied between 30 and 70 kW m-2 so that the results could be evaluated for different fire scenarios and tests. Different flammability tests (UL 94, limiting oxygen index, glow wire test, GMI 60261) were performed and the results compared with the cone calorimeter data. The different char forming mechanisms are described and the resulting fire retardancy is classified. The successful and ecological friendly fire retardancy is a technological breakthrough for PP/flax biocomposites.
The fire retardancy mechanisms of aluminium diethylphosphinate in combination with melamine polyphosphate and zinc borate was analysed in glass-fibre reinforced polyamide 6,6. The influence of phosphorus compounds on the polyamide decomposition pathways was characterized using thermal analysis (TG), evolved gas analysis (TGFTIR), and FTIRATR analysis of the residue. The Lewis acidbase interactions between the flame retardants, the amide unit, and the metal ions control the decomposition. The flammability (LOI, UL 94) and performance under forced-flaming conditions (cone calorimeter using different irradiations) were investigated. Fire residues were analysed with FTIRATR, SEMEDX, and NMR. Aluminium phosphinate in polyamide 6,6 acts mainly by flame inhibition. Melamine polyphosphate shows some fuel dilution and a significant barrier effect. Using a combination of aluminium phosphinate and melamine polyphosphate results in some charring and a dominant barrier effect. These effects are improved in the presence of zinc borate due to the formation of boronaluminium phosphates instead of aluminium phosphates.
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.
Flame retardancy mechanisms of aluminium phosphinate in glass fiber reinforced thermoplastics
(2008)
Influence of weathering on the stability of flame retardancy in polymeric materials for outdoor use
(2009)
Nanocomposites of bisphenol A polycarbonate with 2, 4, 6, and 15 wt% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and their use in fire retardancy are investigated. Their thermal behavior and pyrolysis are characterized using thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimeter, oscillatory shear rheology, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The flammability is addressed using LOI and UL 94; the fire behavior, with a cone calorimeter using different irradiation. With increasing MWNT content the storage modulus is increased (10-20%) and melt viscosity increases by several orders of magnitude, particularly for low shear rates. The melt flow, dripping, and deformation during fire are hindered, which influences UL 94 and cone calorimeter results. The peak heat release rate is reduced up to 40-50% due to an improved barrier for small amounts (2 wt%) of MWNT and for low irradiation, whereas the effect is reduced for increasing irradiation and nearly vanishes for increasing filling. Adjuvant but also deleterious mechanisms result in the complex dependency on the MWNT content. Significant flame retardancy effects are specific and limited to only some fire properties. This study allows the materials' potential for implementation in different fire scenarios and tests to be assessed and provides insight into active mechanisms.
Glass fiber reinforced polyamide (PA) 6T/DT flame retarded with aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPi) was tested to assess its flame retardant properties. Models for the decomposition of PA 6T/DT with and without AlPi are presented. Thermal decomposition was measured by performing TGA with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy in the condensed phase. Fire behavior was studied using a cone calorimeter and flammability was tested with UL 94 and the limiting oxygen index. AlPi works as an effective flame retardant for glass fiber reinforced PA 6T/DT materials, acting in the gas phase. Also observed was condensed-phase action, which occurs especially under oxidative conditions before the samples ignite.
The reactivity of the flame retardant and its decomposition temperature control the condensed-phase action in bisphenol A polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/polytetrafluoroethylene (PC/ABSPTFE) blends. Thus, to increase charring in the condensed phase of PC/ABSPTFE + aryl phosphate, two halogen-free flame retardants were synthesized: 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylbisphenol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (TMC-BDP) and bisphenol A bis(diethyl phosphate) (BEP). Their performance is compared to bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP) in PC/ABSPTFE blend. The comprehensive study was carried out using thermogravimetry (TG); TG coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR); the Underwriters Laboratory burning chamber (UL 94); limiting oxygen index (LOI); cone calorimeter at different irradiations; tensile, bending and heat distortion temperature tests; as well as rheological studies and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). With respect to pyrolysis, TMC-BDP works as well as BDP in the PC/ABSPTFE blend by enhancing the cross-linking of PC, whereas BEP shows worse performance because it prefers cross-linking with itself rather than with PC. As to its fire behavior, PC/ABSPTFE + TMC-BDP presents results very similar to PC/ABSPTFE + BDP; the blend PC/ABSPTFE + BEP shows lower flame inhibition and higher total heat evolved (THE). The UL 94 for the materials with TMC-BDP and BDP improved from HB to V0 for specimens of 3.2 mm thickness compared to PC/ABSPTFE and PC/ABSPTFE + BEP; the LOI increased from around 24% up to around 28%, respectively. BEP works as the strongest plasticizer in PC/ABSPTFE, whereas the blends with TMC-BDP and BDP present the same rheological properties. PC/ABSPTFE + TMC-BDP exhibits the best mechanical properties among all flame-retarded blends.