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The presentation gives an overview of actual research adtivities in the field of flame retardant polymers. Details are selected illuminating the scientific topic beyond the state of the art. Different concepts are illustrated with own results obtained in different Research projects over the last 15 years.
Most synthetic polymers have a high fire load, and as a result, they require flame retardants (FRs) to ensure their safe use. Phosphorus plays an important role in flame retardancy and has the potential to replace halogenated variants, which are assumed to be harmful to the environment and health. Among phosphorus-based FRs, there exists a trend towards polymeric, high molar mass molecules with complex molecular architectures. In this project, we synthesized a novel series of so-called phosphorus-based hyperbranched polymeric FRs and investigated their use as multifunctional additives to high-performance polymers, i.e. epoxy resins. By cleverly designing the chemical structure to contain varying amounts of P-O and P-N bonds, new insight into the chemical mechanism of flame retardancy was gained, and by comparing the hyperbranched polymers to their monomeric counterparts, a greater understanding of the role of complex architecture was won. This talk aims at presenting some of these results and proposes chemical mechanisms that illustrate what role these novel hyperbranched flame retardants play in molecular firefighting.
This paper is based mainly on the results of two different projects performed in the group of the author recently (2016-2019). The three external partners involved in these two projects are competent in the preparation of FPUF (ICL IP America), RPUF (Department of Industrial Engineering, Padova University), and TPU (Fraunhofer-Institut für Betriebsfestigkeit und Systemzuverlässigkeit LBF, Darmstadt) as well as for the specimen preparation. Systematically varied sets of materials were prepared as the key basic for scientific discussion, varying the kind and combination of flame retardant, PUR structure, density, and blowing agent.
A multimethodical approach based on thermogravimetry (TGA), TGA coupled with evolved gas analysis (TGA-FTIR) and pyrolysis GC-MS was used for investigating the pyrolysis. The flammability was addressed using oxygen index (OI) and testing in UL 94 burning chamber in vertical and horizontal set-up. The fire behaviour was addressed by using a cone calorimeter. Beyond these methods according to the state of the art, key experiments were performed. We addressed the dripping and the two-stage burning of TPU using a self-designed apparatus and specific data evaluation, the foam burning through quenching burning samples, using different special sample holders, and measuring temperature profiles within the burning foams. The investigation is made round by intensive analysis of the fire residues, such as comprehensive investigation of the morphology.
Result on the pyrolysis (TGA-FTIR, Pyrolysis-GC/MS), flammability (UL 94, LOI), and fire behaviour (cone calorimeter) of TPU and flame retardant TPUs are shown. We discuss in detail the characteristic of PUR decomposition: the low tendency to char, and the specific two step decomposition and how these characteristics control the regimes in fire behaviour. We demonstrate that the different burning regimes are controlled by different pyrolysis products and effective heat of combustions. The resulting formation of pool fires as well as the formation of dripping is discussed in detail. The latter quite important to understand the flame retardancy applied with respect to achieve the UL 94 classification V0 nondripping or V0 non-flaming dripping.
Rigid and flexible PUR foams and their flame retarded versions are investigated for different densities. Water and pentane-blown foams are compared as well as PUR and polyisocyanurate-polyurethane (PIR) foams. Horizontal testing in the cone calorimeter is used and the vertical foam specimen holder as well. Self-designed set-ups within the cone calorimeter enable a better inside in the pyrolysis front running through the foam samples as well as the development of the temperature gradient inside the foam during the fire test. The morphology change during burning was characterised by the means of quenching burning foams with liquid nitrogen and investigating the cross sections with scanning electron microscope. In sum, a rather comprehensive study was performed to work out the principle fire phenomena controlling the fire behaviour of PUR foams in a very systematic and significant way.
Promising flame retardancy approaches are discussed. The importance of either combining the drain of fuel and flame inhibition or charring into an effective protection layer/multicellular structure is underlined.
This contribution focusses the general conclusions and trends. It tries to increase the understanding of the specific and demanding challenge to develop flame retardant PUR materials.
Benefits of hyperbranched structure:
Molecular weight, miscibility, number of FR groups, end-group functionalization, glass transition temperature, decreased PBT.
Examples of hyperbranched FRs:
Charring agent, silicone, triazine, etc.
Systematic study of effect of chemical surrounding and impact of Complex shape of phosphorus-based hyperbranched polymers on flame retardant efficacy in epoxy resins.
Thermoplastic polyurethane - How thespecific two-stage decompositioncontrols its fire behavior
(2018)
Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) are one of the major classes of thermoplastic elastomers used in the cable and wire industry. Due to their chemical structure, they are considered as linear block copolymers with alternating hard and soft segments. This specific structure is not only responsible for the excellent mechanical properties of TPU like high tensile strength or abrasion resistance, but it also influences the pyrolysis and burning behavior. TPU is a highly flammable polymer which forms liquid pool fires or burning drops which results in intensive flame spread. Because of that, TPU often does not meet the strict requirements for indoor applications given by the cable market.
Under thermal stress, TPU decomposes in a specific way. At first, the hard segments decompose and the material becomes soft and melts. Subsequently, pool fires are formed and melted material burns extensively. There are not many works addressing this problem in detail especially in terms of suitable flame retardant solutions. It is crucial to understand at which stage the flame retardants are working and how they affect the thermal decomposition of TPU. Hence, the focus of this work was put on the identification of the reactions occurring during each stage of TPU decomposition and the contribution of released products to the effective heat of combustion (EHC). Moreover, the detailed analysis of the melt dripping behavior was performed to better understand the influence of the decomposition degree on the viscosity.
The use of melamine cyanurate (MC) in combination with other additives was reported to be a promising flame retardant solution for TPU, especially in cable jacket applications. Hence, the combinations of MC with various flame retardants were used in TPU (Elastollan® 1185A10) and were investigated in terms of fire behavior, flammability, pyrolysis and decomposition products. As flame retardants, common ones were used including aluminum trihydrate (ATH), melamine polyphosphate (MPP), or aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPi). Moreover, commercial product TPU-FR (Elastollan® 1185A10FHF) was investigated as a reference.
The demands for modern flame retardants are higher than ever: a flame retardant must function effectively in a certain polymer matrix and avoid critical alterations to the material’s properties. Ideally, a flame retardant additive should be easily miscible and show no sign of leaching or blooming from the matrix. Additionally, the flame retardant should be non-toxic, non-accumulating and biocompatible. Hyperbranched polymers are a promising group of multifunctional flame retardants which fulfill these demands: their complex shape enables high miscibility and avoids leaching or blooming, while their high molecular weight potentially increases biocompatibility and lowers accumulation and toxicity. Moreover, they exhibit a low impact on polymer properties and a good flame retardant performance.
This work examines the efficacy and mode of action of phosphorus-based hyperbranched polymeric flame retardants in bisphenol A-based epoxy matrices. To investigate the effect of the complex shape, the hyperbranched polymers are compared to their corresponding monomeric variants. Furthermore, the materials are synthesized to contain systematically varying oxygen-to-nitrogen ratios, allowing for new insight into what role the chemical surrounding of phosphorous plays in flame retardant efficacy.
Using a multi-methodical approach, including thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), hot stage FTIR, micro combustion calorimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 tests and cone calorimetry experiments, the decomposition mechanisms and the flame retardant modes of action of these flame retardants in epoxy resins are investigated, shedding new light on the chemistry of flame retardancy.