软质聚氨酯泡沫塑料用无卤阻燃剂的研究

本文以羟基苯氧膦丙烯酸(CEPP)和三聚氰胺(MA)为原料合成了一种含磷、氮无卤阻燃剂(CMA),采用FT-IR表征了阻燃剂的化学结构,并将该阻燃剂用于软质聚氨酯泡沫(FPUF)的阻燃。用扫描电镜(SEM)研究了阻燃剂的加入对FPUF的形态的影响,通过LO I和垂直燃烧(Cal.117A)测试研究了该阻燃剂对FPUF的阻燃效果。结果表明,CMA可以有效提高FPUF的阻燃性:当CMA的添加量为10%时,FPUF即可通过Cal.117A测试,其LO I值也从17.3提高到23.0;随阻燃剂添加量的增加,FPUF的阻燃性能也逐渐提高。TG测试结果表明CMA的加入对FPUF的热稳定性没有多大影响。     

Effects of graphene nanosheets decorated by cerium stannate on the enhancement of flame retardancy and mechanical performances of flexible polyurethane foam composites

As one of the most used polyurethane, flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) still confronted highly flammable problems. However, current flame retardant employed in FPUF deteriorated the other utilization performances, such as mechanical properties. In this work, cerium stannate decorated graphene nanosheets (GNS@Ce₂Sn₂O₇, GCSO) was prepared to fabricate flame retardant FPUF composites. Compared to pure FPUF, the tensile strength and average compression strength of FPUF composites accomplished 100 and 412% increase, respectively, while the average rebound was basically maintained. In contrast to pure FPUF, total heat release and total smoke production of FPUF composites displayed a 42.2 and 75.1% reduction, respectively. Furthermore, the released toxic gases (such as, CO₂, CO and NO_x) during combustion were greatly decreased. These results were due to the catalytic and barrier effect of GCSO promoting the formation a high-quality char residue with a compact, intact and dense morphology. Therefore, it provides a facile method to fabricate FPUF composites with advanced comprehensive performance for the furniture field.     

Synergistic effects of ferric pyrophosphate (FePP) in intumescent flame‐retardant polypropylene

Ferric pyrophosphate (FePP) was added to an ammonium polyphosphate (APP)—pentaerythritol (petol) intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system in polypropylene (PP) matrix, with subsequent investigation into the synergistic effect between FePP and the IFRs. Limited oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test and cone calorimeter test were employed to study the flame retardance of the synthesized flame retardant PP composites. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermogravimetric analysis‐infrared spectrometry (TG‐IR) were used to study their thermal degradation characteristics and gas products. TG‐IR results demonstrate that there is no Fe (CO)₅ produced from PP/IFR/FePP system, which implies that the flame retardant mechanism of PP/IFR/FePP system is in the condensed phase rather than in the gas phase. Real time FTIR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to monitor the thermal oxidative stability and the high temperature performance of the flame retardant PP composites. The real time FTIR spectra show that all peaks around 2900 cm^?1 almost disappear at 380°C for the PP/IFR system, meaning that PP decomposes completely at this temperature. But after the addition of 2 wt%wt% FePP, the peaks still exist till 400°C. XPS shows that the aliphatic carbon atom content in PP/23 wt%wt% IFR/2 wt%wt% FePP (63.8%) is much higher than the one without FePP, and the total oxygen atom content in PP/23 wt%wt% IFR/2 wt%wt% FePP is just 19.1%, while the one in PP/25 wt% IFR is as high as 35.7%. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal degradation and flame retardancy of epoxy resins containing intumescent flame retardant

Pentaerythritol diphosphonate melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin salt, a novel cheap macromolecular intumescent flame retardants (IFR), was synthesized, and its structure was a caged bicyclic macromolecule containing phosphorus characterized by IR. Epoxy resins (EP) were modified with IFR to get the flame retardant EP, whose flammability and burning behavior were characterized by UL 94 and limiting oxygen index (LOI). 25 mass% of IFR were doped into EP to get 27.2 of LOI and UL 94 V-0. The thermal properties of epoxy resins containing IFR were investigated with thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). Activation energy for the decomposition of samples was obtained using Kissinger equation. The resultant data show that for EP containing IFR, compared with EP, IFR decreased mass loss, thermal stability and R _max, increased the char yield. The activation energy for the decomposition of EP is 230.4 kJ mol⁻¹ while it becomes 193.8 kJ mol⁻¹ for EP containing IFR, decreased by 36.6 kJ mol⁻¹, which shows that IFR can catalyze decomposition and carbonization of EP.     

Flame retardant mechanism of an efficient flame-retardant polymeric synergist with ammonium polyphosphate for polypropylene

An efficient flame retardant polymeric synergist poly[N⁴-bis(ethylenediamino)-phenyl phosphonic-N², N⁶-bis(ethylenediamino)-1,3,5-triazine-N-phenyl phosphonate] (PTPA) was designed and synthesized from cyanuric chloride, ethylenediamine and phenylphosphonic dichloride. It was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR, Elemental Analysis (EA) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). Combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP), a new intumescent flame retardant (IFR) was obtained. The flammability behaviors of polypropylene (PP)/IFR system were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94) and cone calorimetry. With 25 wt% of IFR (APP:PTPA = 2:1), the PP/IFR system could achieve a LOI value of 34.0% and UL-94 V-0 rating, and the heat release rate (HRR), peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and smoke production rate (SPR) were considerably reduced, especially HRR and SPR were decreased by 85% and 79%, respectively. The results indicate that there is an excellent synergism between APP and PTPA, which endows PP with both good flame retardancy and good smoke suppression. Furthermore, the thermal degradation mechanism of IFR and the flame-retardant mechanism of PP/IFR system were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR, TG-FTIR and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The study on the flame-retardant mechanism of IFR indicated that a structure containing –CN was formed due to the reaction between APP and PTPA.     

A novel intumescent flame‐retardant LDPE system and its thermo‐oxidative degradation and flame‐retardant mechanisms

A carbonization agent, 3,9‐di (2‐hydroxyisopropyl)‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐3,9‐diphosphaspiro‐[5,5]‐undecane (SPEPO), was synthesized from pentaerythritol (PER), phosphorus trichloride, formic acid, and acetone as raw materials. The structure of SPEPO was characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR. As a carbonization agent and an acid source, SPEPO can form a novel intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) system for low density polyethylene (LDPE) together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and melamine phosphate (MP). The flame retardancy and thermal behavior of the IFR system for LDPE were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When the weight ratio of SPEPO, APP, and MP is 7:7:1 and their total loading level is 30%, the IFR‐LDPE presents the optimal flame retardancy (LOI value of 27.6 and UL‐94 V‐0 rating). However, SPEPO, APP, or MP can only show a very poor flame‐retardant performance when used alone. This indicates that there is a synergistic effect among SPEPO, APP, and MP. TGA results obtained in air demonstrate that SPEPO has an ability of char formation itself, and the char residue of SPEPO can reach 24 wt% at 700°C. The IFR can change the thermal degradation behavior of LDPE, enhance T_max of the decomposition peak of LDPE, and promote LDPE to form char based on the calculated and the experimental data of residues. According to the results of Py‐GC/MS in combination with FTIR of the char residues at different temperatures, a possible flame‐retardant mechanism has been proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel intumescent flame-retardant system containing metal chelates for polyvinyl alcohol

A novel flame retardant containing phosphorous-nitrogen structure, the ammonium salt of 2-hydroxyl-5,5-dimethyl-2,2-oxo-1,3,2-dioxapho sphorinane (PNOH), was synthesized and its structure was characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectra. PNOH was used together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to prepare a novel intumescent flame retardant (IFR) for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). When a few amounts (0.5%) of metal chelates were added, the flame retardancy of the IFR-PVA systems was significantly improved, having a high LOI value of 34.2 in a total IFR loading of 15 wt.%. In order to have an understanding of the resulting flame retardant effects, the thermal degradation behaviors of IFR-PVA systems were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the morphology and structures of residues generated in different conditions were investigated by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and FTIR spectra. The results show that NiSAO can promote the thermal stability of the IFR-PVA; the residual char containing polyphosphoric or phosphoric acid is formed during the combustion; the formation of a continuous and dense char layer could inhibit the transmission of heat during contacting with flame and shows good flame retardancy.     

Synergistic effect between a novel hyperbranched charring agent and ammonium polyphosphate on the flame retardant and anti-dripping properties of polylactide

A novel hyperbranched polyamine charring agent (HPCA), a derivative of triazines, was synthesized and well characterized by ¹H NMR and FTIR. HPCA and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were added into polylactide (PLA) resin as an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system to impart flame retardancy and dripping resistance to PLA. The flammability and thermal stability of IFR-PLA composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 vertical burning, cone calorimetry and thermogravometric analysis (TGA) tests. The results showed that the IFR system had both excellent flame retardant and anti-dripping abilities for PLA. The TGA curves suggested that HPCA has good ability of char formation and when combined with APP, would induce synergistic effect which could be clearly observed. This effect greatly promoted the char formation of IFR-PLA composites, hence improved the flame retardant property. Additionally, the structure and morphology of char residues were studied by XPS, FTIR and SEM.     

Flame retardant properties and mechanism of an efficient intumescent flame retardant PLA composites

The charring agent (CNCA‐DA) containing triazine and benzene rings was combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to form intumescent flame retardant (IFR), and it was occupied to modify polylactide (PLA). The flame retardant properties and mechanism of flame retardant PLA composites were investigated by the limited oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL‐94), thermogravimetric analysis, microscale combustion calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analysis from LOI and UL‐94 presented that the IFR was very effective in flame retardancy of PLA. When the weight ratio of APP to CNCA‐DA was 3:1, and the IFR loading was 30%, the IFR showed the best effect, and the LOI value reached 45.6%. It was found that when 20 wt% IFR was loaded, the flame retardancy of PLA/IFR still passed UL‐94 V‐0 rating, and its LOI value reached 32.8%. The microscale combustion calorimetry results showed that PLA/IFR had lower heat release rate, total heat release, and heat release capacity than other composites, and there was an obvious synergistic effect between APP and CNCA‐DA for PLA. IFR containing APP/CNCA‐DA had good thermal stability and char‐forming ability with the char residue 29.3% at 800°C under N₂ atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy observation further indicated that IFR could promote forming continuous and compact intumescent char layer. The laser Raman spectroscopy analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis results indicated that an appropriate graphitization degree of the residue char was formed, and more O and N were remained to form more cross‐linking structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synergistic effect of organophilic Fe-montmorillonite on flammability in polypropylene/intumescent flame retardant system

Polypropylene/intumescent flame retardant/organophilic Fe-montmorillonite (PP/IFR/Fe-OMT) nanocomposites were prepared by melting intercalation. In order to investigate the effect of structural Fe³⁺ in the PP/IFR system, the corresponding PP/IFR and PP/IFR/Na-OMT composites were prepared under the same conditions. The thermo-gravimetric analysis data show that the PP/IFR/Fe-OMT nanocomposites have higher thermal stability than the PP/IFR and PP/IFR/Na-OMT composites. The flame retardant results indicate that the limiting oxygen index values of the nanocomposites with Fe-OMT are basically higher than those of the pure PP and the composites containing IFR or Na-OMT/IFR. And the addition of a suitable amount of Fe-OMT in PP/IFR composites can apparently favor UL94 test, and no dripping phenomenon was found. The cone calorimeter test indicates that the heat release rate (HRR) is significantly reduced by the formation of the nanocomposites, and the HRR of the PP/IFR/Fe-OMT nanocomposites are decreased in comparison with those of the PP/IFR/Na-OMT nanocomposites. It is noteworthy that Fe-OMT is helpful to smoke suppression by smoke density test.     

Synthesis of a novel ionic liquid containing phosphorus and its application in intumescent flame retardant polypropylene system

A novel ionic liquid containing phosphorus ([PCMIM]Cl) was synthesized and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ³¹P NMR. Moreover, a new intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system, which was composed of [PCMIM]Cl and ammonium polyphosphate (APP), was used to impart flame retardancy and dripping resistance to polypropylene (PP). The flammability and thermal behaviors of intumescent flame‐retarded PP (PP/IFR) composites were evaluated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimeter test. It was found that there was an obvious synergistic effect between [PCMIM]Cl and APP. When the weight ratio of [PCMIM]Cl and APP was 1:5 and the total amount of IFR was kept at 30 wt%, LOI value of PP/IFR composite reached 31.8, and V‐0 rating was obtained. Moreover, both the peak heat release rate and the peak mass loss rate of PP/IFR composites decreased significantly relative to PP and PP/APP composite from cone calorimeter analysis. The TGA curves suggested that [PCMIM]Cl had good ability of char formation, and when combined with APP, it could greatly promote the char formation of PP/IFR composites, hence improved the flame retardancy. Additionally, the rheological behaviors and mechanical properties of PP/IFR composites were also investigated, and it was found that [PCMIM]Cl could also serve as an efficient lubricant and compatibilizer between APP and PP, endowing the materials with satisfying processability and mechanical properties. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An Intrinsic Flame‐Retardant Organic Electrolyte for Safe Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

Safety concerns pose a significant challenge for the large‐scale employment of lithium–sulfur batteries. Extremely flammable conventional electrolytes and dendritic lithium deposition cause severe safety issues. Now, an intrinsic flame‐retardant (IFR) electrolyte is presented consisting of 1.1 m lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in a solvent mixture of flame‐retardant triethyl phosphate and high flashpoint solvent 1,1,2,2‐tetrafluoroethyl‐2,2,3,3‐tetrafluoropropyl (1:3, v/v) for safe lithium–sulfur (Li?S) batteries. This electrolyte exhibits favorable flame‐retardant properties and high reversibility of the lithium metal anode (Coulombic efficiency >99 %). This IFR electrolyte enables stable lithium plating/stripping behavior with micro‐sized and dense‐packing lithium deposition at high temperatures. When coupled with a sulfurized pyrolyzed poly(acrylonitrile) cathode, Li?S batteries deliver a high composite capacity (840.1 mAh g^?1) and high sulfur utilization of 95.6 %.     

Combined effect of transition metal phosphide (MxPy,M = Ni,Co, and Cu) and intumescent flame retardant system on polypropylene

In this paper, three typical transition metal phosphide nanocrystallines (M_xP_y, M = Ni, Co, and Cu) were synthesized by a novel hydrothermal method, and their structures were characterized by X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Then they were used as synergistic agents with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) to improve the fire safety of polypropylene (PP). Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) results indicated that the introduction of these synergists could improve the thermal stability and char yields of the PP/IFR system. The addition of 2 wt.% Ni₁₂P₅ and Co₂P increased the limiting oxygen index values of the PP/IFR system significantly from 28% to 36% and 34%, respectively, and the system could reach V‐0 rating. The cone calorimeter test results revealed that the combination of transition metal phosphide nanocrystallines and IFR system could result in excellent flame retardancy. The incorporation of these synergists into IFR led to a remarkable influence on charring of PP composites as revealed by TGA and cone data. The morphological structure of char residue proved that the addition of transition metal phosphide nanocrystallines was capable of forming a compact and homogeneous char on the surface, which turned out to be of most importance for the flame retardancy. Thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry results indicated that the flame retardant mechanism of PP/IFR/M_xP_y (M = Ni, Co, and Cu) system was in the condensed phase rather than in the gas phase. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of kaolin on the thermal stability and flame retardancy of polypropylene composite

Kaolin clay was introduced into an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) system containing ammonium polyphosphate as an acid source and pentaerythritol as a carbonization agent in order to improve the thermal stability and flame retardancy of polypropylene (PP) composite. The flame retardancy and smoke suppression was evaluated by the limiting oxygen index, vertical burning UL‐94, and cone calorimeter (CONE) tests. The limiting oxygen index value was increased from 30 to 33 at the presence of 2 phr kaolin. The peak heat release rate value decreased from 1002 kW/m² of neat PP to 318 kW/m² of PP/40 phr IFR and then to 222 kW/m² of PP/38 phr IFR/2 phr kaolin. The time of the peak heat release rate was significantly prolonged after the introduction of kaolin. The morphology of char after combustion was characterized by a scanning electron microscope, and it revealed more compact char structure that was obtained at the presence of kaolin. The mechanism of kaolin on improving the retardancy and smoke suppression of PP/IFR composite was proposed on the basis of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The synergistic flame‐retardant effect of O‐MMT on the intumescent flame‐retardant PP/CA/APP systems

The flame retardancy of a novel intumescent flame‐retardant polypropylene (IFR‐PP) system, which was composed of a charring agent (CA), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and polypropylene (PP), could be enhanced significantly by adding a small amount (1.0 wt%) of an organic montmorillonite (O‐MMT). The synergistic flame‐retardant effect was studied systematically. The thermal stability and combustion behavior of the flame‐retarded PP were also investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL‐94), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), and cone calorimeter test (CCT). TGA results demonstrated that the onset decomposition temperatures of IFR‐PP samples, with or without O‐MMT, were higher than that of neat PP. Compared with IFR‐PP, the LOI value of IFR‐PP containing 1.0 wt% O‐MMT was increased from 30.8 to 33.0, and the UL‐94 rating was also enhanced to V‐0 from V‐1 when the total loading of flame retardant was the same. The cone calorimeter results showed that the IFR‐PP with 1.0 wt% of O‐MMT had the lowest heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), total smoke production (TSP), CO production (COP), CO₂ production (CO₂P), and mass loss (ML) of all the studied IFR‐PP samples, with or without O‐MMT. All these results indicated that O‐MMT had a significantly synergistic effect on the flame‐retardancy of IFR‐PP at a low content of O‐MMT. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synergistic effect of cocondensed nanosilica in intumescent flame‐retardant polypropylene

Amino‐functionalized nanosilica (SiO₂‐NH₂) was prepared through cocondensation method using aminopropyltriethoxysilane as comonomer to hydrolyze and cocondense with tetraethylorthosilicate. The synergistic effect of combination of ammonium polyphosphate and pentaerythritol with SiO₂‐NH₂ on the thermal and flame‐retardant properties of intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) polypropylene (PP) has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and UL 94 tests. When 1.0 wt.% SiO₂‐NH₂ was added, the LOI value of the PP/IFR composite with 25 wt.% of IFR increased from 26.6% to 31.7%, while the UL 94 rating raised from not classified to V‐0. The TGA data demonstrated that the SiO₂‐NH₂ nanoparticles increased the charred residue of the PP/IFR composites. The morphological structures and the orderliness of the charred residue proved that SiO₂‐NH₂ promoted the formation of compact intumescent charred layer, which effectively protected the underlying polymer from burning. The XRD patterns of the charred residue indicated that nanosilica reacted with APP to form SiP₂O₇ crystal structure during combustion, which was beneficial to the formation of compact charred layers. In comparison with the inorganic SiO₂‐cal nanoparticles, the amino‐functionalized nanosilica revealed much more efficient synergistic flame‐retardant effect due to the difference of surface properties.     

Effect of a novel charring agent on thermal degradation and flame retardancy of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene

A novel charring agent poly(p-propane terephthalamide) (PPTA) was synthesized by using terephthaloyl chloride and 1,3-propanediamine through solution polycondensation and it was used together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to prepare a novel intumescent flame retardant (IFR) for ABS. The thermal degradation behaviour and flame retardancy were investigated, the results showed that PPTA could be effective as a charring agent, the flame retardancy of ABS and the mass of residues improved greatly with the addition of IFR. When the content of APP was 22.5 mass% and PPTA was 7.5 mass%, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of IFR-ABS system was found to be 32.4, and class V-0 of UL-94 test was passed. Moreover, the synergistic effects of two different adjuvants AlPi and MnO₂ in IFR-ABS system have been studied.     

Thermal and flame retardant properties of novel intumescent flame retardant low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites

A char-forming agent (CFA) and silica-gel-microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MCAPP) were selected to form novel intumescent flame retardant system (IFRs), and then the influence of this novel IFRs on the thermal and flame retardant properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were studied. The results of cone calorimetry show that the flame retardant properties of LDPE with 30?wt% novel IFR (CFA/MCAPP?=?1:3) improve remarkably. The heat release rate peak, total heat release (THR) decreases, respectively, from 1479.6 to 273.5?kW?m^?2 and from 108.0 to 80.5?MJ?m^?2. The LDPE composite with CFA/MCAPP?=?1:3 has the excellent water resistance, and it can still obtain a UL-94?V-0 rating after treated with water at 70?°C for 168?h.     

Organically modified montmorillonite as a synergist for intumescent flame retardant against the flammable polypropylene

Low flame retardant efficiency is a key bottleneck for currently available retardants against the flammable polypropylene (PP). Herein, the organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) was utilized as a synergist for our previously reported intumescent flame retardant (IFR) that was constructed from ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and hyperbranched charring foaming agent (HCFA) to further enhance the retardant efficiency against PP. The resultant's combustion behavior was thoroughly investigated by cone calorimetry, limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL‐94), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that 20% addition of IFR with OMMT showed a positive effect and improved the flame retardancy of the PP systems. Especially, addition of 2 wt% OMMT obviously increased the LOI values of PP systems with 20% total loading flame retardants from 29% to 31.5% and the samples meet V‐0 rating as well as the reduction of the heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), CO₂, and CO production occurred. On the other hand, the SEM images were also revealed that OMMT initiated a dense and strong char on the surface of the material, which resulted in efficient flame retardancy of PP matrix during combustion. In addition, thermal degradation behavior discussed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that OMMT could improve the thermal stability of PP systems under high temperature, and promoted char residues of PP/IFR systems. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of a triazine ring‐containing charring agent on fire retardancy and thermal degradation of intumescent flame retardant epoxy resins

A triazine ring‐containing charring agent (PEPATA) was synthesized via the reaction between 2,6,7‐trioxa‐l‐phosphabicyclo‐[2.2.2]octane‐4‐methanol (PEPA) and cyanuric chloride. It was applied into intumescent flame retardant epoxy resins (IFR‐EP) as a charring agent. The effect of PEPATA on fire retardancy and thermal degradation behavior of IFR‐EP system was investigated by limited oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG‐IR). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) of IFR‐EP systems were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The LOI values increased from 21.5 for neat epoxy resins (EPs) to 34.0 for IFR‐EP, demonstrating improved flame retardancy. The TGA curves showed that the amount of residue of IFR‐EP system was largely increased compared to that of neat EP at 700 °C. The new IFR‐EP system could apparently reduce the amount of decomposing products at higher temperatures and promotes the formation of carbonaceous charred layers that slowed down the degradation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.