The influence of comonomers on the degradation and flammability of polyacrylonitrile: Design input for a new generation of flame retardants

A series of homo- and copolymers of acrylonitrile was prepared under radical initiation in DMF solutions. The thermal and flammability characteristics of these polymers were evaluated through thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and by limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements. The thermal degradation behaviours of the polymers were assessed primarily with a view to designing comonomers, for acrylonitrile-based polymers, bearing flame retardant moieties. Broadly speaking, in LOI tests acrylic-based comonomers were found to improve fire performance. For instance, the incorporation of methacrylic acid gave a limiting oxygen index value of 26.4 at 30.9 mol% loading, and an intumescent char was produced upon burning.     

磷酸酯双三聚氰胺盐阻燃环氧树脂的燃烧性能和阻燃机理

以季戊四醇、三氯氧磷、三聚氰胺为原料合成了[1-氧-4-亚甲基-2,6,7-三氧-1-磷杂双环(2,2,2)辛烷]磷酸酯双三聚氰胺盐阻燃剂,将该阻燃剂加入到环氧树脂中制成阻燃环氧树脂。用TG、SEM、EDS和FT-IR进行表征,并采用极限氧指数法和垂直燃烧法测试材料的燃烧性能,结果表明,极限氧指数和垂直燃烧性能随阻燃剂含量的增加而提高,当阻燃剂含量达到30%时,氧指数达到36,垂直燃烧性能达到V-0级;阻燃剂对材料的成炭量影响不大,但改变了炭层的组成和物理性质,燃烧过程中形成的含有P、O、N的粘性高聚物将炭层连接在一起,起到了隔热、隔氧作用,发挥了凝聚相阻燃作用。此外,阻燃环氧树脂在燃烧过程中有NH3等不燃气体逸出,有效地稀释了气相中的氧气浓度,发挥了气相阻燃作用,对材料的阻燃有协同作用。     

Studies on photocrosslinking and flame‐retardant properties of chalcone‐based polyacrylamides

A photocrosslinkable polycyclic chalcone‐based acrylamide has been synthesized by Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction and then polymerized via free radical polymerization technique using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The resulting polymers have been characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR analytic techniques. The molecular weights of the polymers were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The thermal properties of synthesized polymers were characterized by TGA analysis, and the obtained results show good thermal and thermo‐oxidative stability which is required for a negative photo resist. The high flame‐retardant properties are calculated from limiting oxygen index (LOI) values and are found to be 36.9 and 32.0 for naphthyl and anthryl chalcone‐based polymers, respectively. The experimentally determined LOI values of polymers (PMNPA and PAPA) are 34.3 and 30.2, respectively, and the values are closer to theoretically found LOI values. However, the cone calorimetry of flame‐retardant PMNPA only showed a slight decrease in peak of heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) compared to PAPA but the ignition time (TTI) of PMNPA is slightly higher than PAPA. The photocrosslinking properties of the polymers were investigated by UV spectroscopy technique and were found that with the increase in number of aromatic rings, the rate of crosslinking decreases. Thus polyacrylamides are useful in photolithography technology as well as flame‐retardant property in electrical appliances. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of side-chain liquid-crystalline poly(ether ester)s having p-substituted biphenyl mesogenic side groups

Several novel mesogenic spiro-orthoester monomers such as 1,6,10-trioxaspiro[4,5]decanes 4 , containing biphenyl mesogens at the C-8 positions of the five- and six-membered spirocyclic ring, through the alkylene spacers of different lengths were prepared by condensation reaction of the corresponding biphenyl mesogenic 1,3-propanediol 3 with 2,2-diethoxytetrahydrofuran, with 50–75% yields. Through cationic double ring-opening polymerization, carried out with boron trifluoride etherate as an initiator (5 mol % vs. monomer) in bulk at 150°C, spiro-orthoester monomers 4 afforded a novel class of side-chain thermotropic LC polymers with a poly(ether ester) as the main chain 8 . The liquid-crystalline properties of the spiro-orthoester monomers and the resulting polymers were examined by differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarized microscopy. Biphase separation was observed in the side-chain liquid-crystalline poly(ether ester)s upon annealing in the broad isotropic region. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2439–2455, 1998     

聚乙烯/石墨层间化合物热降解过程的TG-FTIR研究

将含磷化合物插层石墨层间化合物(GIC)用于聚乙烯(PE)的阻燃,采用氧指数(LOI)方法评价了PE/GIC的阻燃性能,并采用热分析-红外光谱联用技术(TG-FTIR)研究了PE/GIC的热降解过程,探讨了GIC的阻燃机理。研究表明,不同含磷化合物插层GIC阻燃聚乙烯的氧指数有显著差别,其中以多聚磷酸铵-GIC的阻燃效果较好,氧指数较高。TG-FTIR研究结果表明,GIC并未显著影响PE的热降解方式,但由于GIC体积膨胀所发生的氧化还原反应导致部分PE热降解提前并发生热氧化降解,促进了后期成炭的石墨化过程。     

三（三溴苯氧基）三嗪的合成及阻燃性能

以苯酚和三聚氯氰为原料,合成了一种溴氮型阻燃剂--三（三溴苯氧基）三嗪（3）,收率95.8%,其结构和性能经¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR和TG-DTG表征。采用极限氧指数（LOI）测试研究了3对环氧树脂（EP）的阻燃性能。结果表明：3的T₅为331 ℃, 500 ℃残炭率为8.25%。 3的用量为25%时,3²⁵-EP的LOI为28%,阻燃级别为难燃。     

Influence of surface modification of fillers and polymer on flammability and tensile behaviour of polypropylene-composites

An intumescent system consisting of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as an acid source and blowing agent, pentaerythritol (PER) as a carbonific agent and natural zeolite (clinoptilolite, Gördes II) as a synergistic agent was used in this study to enhance flame retardancy of polypropylene (FR-PP). Zeolite was incorporated into flame retardant formulation at four different concentrations (1, 2, 5, and 10 wt%) to investigate synergism with the flame retardant materials. Filler content was fixed at 30 wt% of total amounts of flame retardant PP composites. Zeolite and APP were treated with two different coupling agents namely, 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propanethiol and (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane for investigation of the influence of surface treatments on mechanical properties and flame retardant performance of composites. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was used for making polypropylene hydrophilic. Flammability of FR-PP composites was measured by the determination of limiting oxygen index (LOI). The LOI values reached to a maximum value of 41% for mercapto silane treated APP:PER (2:1) PP composite containing 5 wt% zeolite. The tensile strength of composites was increased by the addition of MAPP and elongation at break of composites was increased with silane treatments.     

Novel Flame‐Retardant and Thermally Stable Poly(Amide‐imide)s Based on Bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐Ene‐2,3,5,6‐Tetracarboxylic Diimide and Phosphine Oxide in the Main Chain: Synthesis and Characterization

Six novel poly(amide‐imide)s PAIs 5a‐f were synthesized through the direct polycondensation reaction of six chiral N,N′‐(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐tetracarboxylic)‐bis‐L‐amino acids 3a‐f with bis(3‐amino phenyl) phenyl phosphine oxide 4 in a medium consisting of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), triphenyl phosphite (TPP), calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and pyridine. The polymerization reaction produced a series of flame‐retardant and thermally stable poly(amide‐imide)s 5a‐f with high yield and good inherent viscosity of 0.39–0.83 dLg^?1. The resultant polymers were fully characterized by means of FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, inherent viscosity, specific rotation and solubility tests. Thermal properties and flame retardant behavior of the PAIs 5a‐f were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG) and limited oxygen index (LOI). Data obtained by thermal analysis (TGA and DTG) revealed that these polymers show good thermal stability. Furthermore, high char yields in TGA and good LOI values indicated that resultant polymers exhibited good flame retardant properties. N,N′‐(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐tetracarboxylic)‐bis‐L‐amino acids 3a‐f were prepared in quantitative yields by the condensation reaction of bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐2,3,5,6‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride 1 with L‐alanine 2a , L‐valine 2b , L‐leucine 2c , L‐isoleucine 2d , L‐phenyl alanine 2e and L‐2‐aminobutyric acid 2f in acetic acid solution. These polymers can be potentially utilized in flame retardant thermoplastic materials.     

A flame‐retardant phosphate and cyclotriphosphazene‐containing epoxy resin: Synthesis and properties

A novel flame‐retardant epoxy resin, (4‐diethoxyphosphoryloxyphenoxy)(4‐glycidoxyphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (PPCTP), was prepared by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with (4‐diethoxyphosphoryloxyphenoxy)(4‐hydroxyphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene and was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ³¹P NMR, and ¹H NMR analyses. The epoxy resin was further cured with diamine curing agents, 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS), dicyanodiamide (DICY), and 3,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA), to obtain the corresponding epoxy polymers. The curing reactions of the PPCTP resin with the diamines were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The reactivities of the four curing agents toward PPCTP were in the following order: DDM > ODA > DICY > DDS. In addition, the thermal properties of the cured epoxy polymers were studied by thermogravimetric analysis, and the flame retardancies were estimated by measurement of the limiting oxygen index (LOI). Compared to a corresponding Epon 828‐based epoxy polymer, the PPCTP‐based epoxy polymers showed lower weight‐loss temperatures, higher char yields, and higher LOI values, indicating that the epoxy resin prepared could be useful as a flame retardant. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 972–981, 2000     

Optimisation of the effect of colemanite as a new synergistic agent in an intumescent system

An intumescent system including ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as an acid source and blowing agent, pentaerythritol (PER) as a carbonific agent and colemanite as a synergistic agent is used to enhance flame retardancy of polypropylene (FR-PP). In order to investigate the synergism between colemanite and the flame retardant materials (APP and PER), D-optimal mixture design was employed. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) and amount of residue (AoR) were accepted as response 1 and response 2, respectively. Applying D-optimal strategy, 18 experiments were performed. Filler content was fixed at 30 wt% of total amounts of flame retardant PP composites. Constraints were determined according to the ratio of APP/PER ranging between 1 and 3. Statistical analysis of the cubic model revealed that lack of fit (LoF) was not significant for the cubic and linear model for both responses. The model suggested an optimum composite formulation with concentration levels 65% of APP, 28% of PER and 7% of colemanite that gives an LOI of 40.3. The experimental LOI and AoR of optimum formulation were achieved as 39.3 and 21.4 with 2.5% and 2.2% errors, respectively.     

Synthetic Hydromagnesite as Flame Retardant. A Study of the Stearic Coating Process

A synthetic hydromagnesite obtained from an industrial by-product rich in magnesium oxide was employed and evaluated as a non-halogenated flame retardant for poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate). The filler was characterized with different techniques (such as specific surface area, TGA, particle morphology and size measurements, WAXS). Significant differences were found between the synthetic hydromagnesite and the natural one. Synthetic hydromagnesite was coated with stearic acid and the effectiveness of the coating process was studied by the dye adsorption method and sedimentation volume measurements. The amount of coating agent ranged from 1 to 4.5%. This factor was found to have a significant effect on the thermal decomposition behaviour of the filler. A poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (27% of VA) was filled with the coated synthetic grades of hydromagnesite as well as with two commercial flame retardants and different physicochemical properties were evaluated, including their flame retardant effect.     

Thermal stability and flame retardancy of LDPE/EVA blends filled with synthetic hydromagnesite/aluminium hydroxide/montmorillonite and magnesium hydroxide/aluminium hydroxide/montmorillonite mixtures

The combination of organophillised montmorillonite (MMT), synthetic hydromagnesite and aluminium hydroxide (ATH) as flame retardant system for polyethylene-based materials was studied and compared with a similar system with magnesium hydroxide, ATH and MMT. The thermal stability and the flame retardant properties were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter tests. The results indicated that the addition of montmorillonite makes it possible to reduce the total filler content to achieve the flame retardant requirements. The thermal stability of filled LDPE/EVA blends increases to a higher extent for the samples containing MMT. In the cone calorimeter tests we observed a reduction of the peak heat release rate for the sample containing montmorillonite in comparison with a sample with higher filler loading without this nanoclay. An increase of the stability of the char formed could be responsible for this favourable behaviour when montmorillonite is added.In addition, mechanical properties significantly improved for the composites containing montmorillonite both for the filler loading reduction and the reinforcement effect of the nanoclay.     

The effect of different impact modifiers in halogen-free flame retarded polycarbonate blends - II. Fire behaviour

In this second of a series of two papers, the fire behaviour of halogen-free flame retarded polycarbonate (PC) blends with different impact modifiers was studied. The impact modifiers were acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), a poly(n-butyl acrylate) rubber (PBA) with a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell and two silicone-acrylate rubbers consisting of PBA with different amounts of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and different shell materials (PMMA and styrene-acrylonitrile, SAN). The flame retardant was bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP). Flammability was determined by LOI and UL 94. The burning behaviour under forced flaming conditions was studied by cone calorimeter under different external irradiations and by pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter measurements. The exchange of ABS with the pure acrylate rubber worsened flammability, while similar results were obtained in cone calorimeter measurements. The exchange of ABS with the silicone-acrylate rubbers is promising, particularly with higher amounts of PDMS. In flammability tests strongly enhanced LOI values were obtained and therefore silicone-acrylate rubbers look like promising alternatives for ABS.     

可膨胀石墨阻燃体系在聚丙烯中的作用

采用可膨胀石墨(EG)为主阻燃剂,包裹红磷(MRP)为阻燃协效剂制备阻燃聚丙烯(PP)。在mEG∶mMRP≥2时,阻燃效果最佳。阻燃剂(FR)含量达到30%后,阻燃效果大幅度提高,氧指数大于28。采用热失重和流变学方法分析了炭层质量,探讨了在mEG∶mMRP≥2时,阻燃效率最高的原因。相容剂马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯(PP-g-MAH)能够改善阻燃剂和聚丙烯之间的相容性,提高粘结力,改善炭层质量,提高材料的氧指数,PP-g-MAH用量为30%时,材料的氧指数达到31.4。     

s-Triazine containing flame retardant hyperbranched polyamines: Synthesis, characterization and properties evaluation

A s-triazine containing hyperbranched polyamine (HBPA) has been synthesized from cyanuric chloride and aromatic diamine, 4,4′-(1,4-phenylenediisopropylidene) bis-aniline by nucleophilic displacement polymerization technique using an A₂ + B₃ approach with high yield (>80%). The synthesized polymer has been characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR spectroscopic studies, elemental analysis, solubility and measurement of solution viscosity. The thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) studies indicate that the polymer is thermostable upto 290 °C without any decomposition and has glass transition temperature of 243 °C. The flame retardancy of the pure powder polymer and the blends with linear commercial polymers such as plasticized PVC and LDPE with this hyperbranched polymer were investigated by the measurement of limiting oxygen index (LOI) value. The results show that the polymer has self-extinguishing characteristic (LOI = 38) and acts as an effective flame retardant additive for the above linear base polymers. The synergistic effect of this hyperbranched flame retardant was observed with triphenyl phosphine oxide in the same base polymers. The flammability efficiency of the hyperbranched polyamine is also evaluated by help of thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The heat aging and leaching in different chemical media did not influence the flame retardancy of the blends.     

Inherent flame retardation of bio-based poly(lactic acid) by incorporating phosphorus linked pendent group into the backbone

The molecular design for inherently flame-retardant poly(lactic acid) (IFR-PLA) was outlined and achieved by chemically incorporating an effective organophophorus-type flame retardant (FR) into the PLA backbone via the chain extension of the dihydroxyl-terminated prepolymer with 1, 6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The structure of IFR-PLA was characterized by ¹H- and ³¹P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. IFR-PLA was further blended with the commercial PLA to prepare flame retardant PLA blends (PLA-FR blend). The relevant properties of IFR-PLA and PLA-FR blends were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements and UL-94 tests. The thermal analysis revealed that the char yield of IFR-PLA and PLA-FR blend above 400 °C was greatly enhanced compared to that of pure PLA. The LOI value was significantly improved from 19 for pure PLA to 29 when 1 wt% of phosphorus content was introduced and all IFR-PLA samples achieved V-0 rating in the UL-94 tests. PLA-FR blends had an LOI value of 25-26 and UL-94 V-2 rating at 20 wt% of IFR-PLA content. The tensile strength of all the FR PLA systems was ca. 60 MPa. The method used in this study provided a novel route to permanently flame retard PLA.     

Effect of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer on flame retardancy and properties of LLDPE/EAA/MH composites

Halogen-free flame retardant linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer (EAA) blends were prepared in a melt process using magnesium hydroxide (MH) as flame retardant. The effect of EAA on flame retardancy and properties of LLDPE/EAA/MH composites was studied. The flammability of composites was investigated using Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and Cone calorimeter test. The results showed that the introduction of EAA into composites apparently increased LOI from 28% to 39%, meanwhile, reduced heat release rate (HRR) and smoke production rate (SPR) according to Cone calorimeter results, which was mainly due to the uniform dispersion of MH as a result of hydrogen bonding and acid-base reaction between MH and EAA. This improved interfacial adhesion was confirmed by Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that EAA could enhance the thermal oxidative stability of composites. It was attributed to the formation of a stable barrier to prevent the heat and mass transfer in fire, which was confirmed by the observation of fire performance with Cone calorimeter. The crystallization and rheological behaviour of composites were studied using Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and oscillatory rheological measurements. Mechanical test results indicated that the addition of EAA could increase the elongation at break and impact strength of composites.     

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。     

Simultaneous DSC-reflected Light Intensity of Polymer Systems. Part II

It has been shown that simultaneous measurements of reflected light intensity (RLI) with DSC can give additional and valuable information for the thermal analysis of materials including pure organic and inorganic chemicals, natural and synthetic polymers and foods. This paper extends the range of polymers studied and examines the possibility of improving the reproducibility and quantitative nature of RLI measurements. Polymer crystallisation, the curing of epoxy resins, the action of fire retardant additives and the degradation of polymers and proteins are among the systems studied. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Combustion properties and thermal degradation behavior of polylactide with an effective intumescent flame retardant

An intumescent flame retardant spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphorate disphosphoryl melamine (SPDPM) has been synthesized and its structure was characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry (FTIR), ¹H and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR). A series of polylactide (PLA)-based flame retardant composites containing SPDPM were prepared by melt blending method. The combustion properties of PLA/SPDPM composites were evaluated through UL-94, limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests and microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) experiments. It is found that SPDPM integrating acid, char and gas sources significantly improved the flame retardancy and anti-dripping performance of PLA. When 25 wt% flame retardant was added, the composites achieved UL-94 V0, and the LOI value was increased to 38. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the weight loss rate of PLA was decreased by introduction of SPDPM. In addition, the thermal degradation process and possible flame retardant mechanism of PLA composites with SPDPM were analyzed by in situ FTIR.