In this Feature Article, we discuss recent developments of flame retardant polymers. Three approaches are considered: (i) inherently flame retardant polymers, (ii) chemically modified polymers and (iii) flame retardants as additives for polymers. We have tried to show the new directions and concepts emerging in the field of flame retardancy. We have mainly focused our comments on flame retardants, nanofillers and surface treatment because very promising concepts appeared recently in the published literature. Synergistic aspects are also fully discussed.

Fire retardant polymers : recent developments and opportunities

A review of flame retardant polypropylene fibres

This paper provides an insight into some developments in flame retardants for different polymeric materials in China, primarily based on the publications that have appeared in the last 15 years. It focuses on the following aspects: halogen-containing flame retardants, inorganic flame retardants (e.g. metal oxides and hydroxides, silicon-containing materials, ammonium polyphosphate, red phosphorus, and expandable graphite), and organic flame retardants (e.g. aliphatic and aromatic phosphonates, nitrogen-containing organics, and multi-element organics). The inherently flame-retardant polymer systems are also reviewed. The exploration of the novel flame retardants and flame-retardant systems provides a powerful basis for the construction of flame-retardant technologies and industrial applications in China. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A review on flame retardant technology in China. Part I: development of flame retardants

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there were an estimated 1.3 million fi res in the United States in 2009, which resulted in 3010 civilian deaths (one every 175 minutes), 17 050 injuries (one every 31 minutes), [ 1 ] and direct property loss estimated at $12.5 billion. There were more than 40 000 deaths worldwide from fi re in 2006 and it cost every country an average of 1% of their gross domestic product in property loss, medical services for burn victims, etc. [ 2 ] Firerelated issues continue to drive the development of materials that can reduce fi re risk to save lives and protect property, but any fl ame retardants used to reduce that fi re risk have to meet various safety standards to reduce the deleterious effect on the environment or human health. Textiles in particular require effective anti-fl ammable performance combined with minimal enviornmental impact because they are often washed and fl ame retardant additives can leach out of the fabric and into the environment. [ 3 , 4 ] There are numerous strategies used to make textile fi bers fl ame retardant: surface treatment, fi re-retardant additives or co-monomers in synthetic fi bers, nanocomposite technology, heat-resistant and inherently fi re-retardant fi bers, and fi ber blending. [ 5 ] More recently, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has been used as a surface treatment to impart fl ame resistance to cotton fabric by coating each individual fi ber with a claypolymer nanobrick wall. [ 6 ]

Intumescent All-Polymer Multilayer Nanocoating Capable of Extinguishing Flame on Fabric

Preface. Acronyms. 1 Introduction to Flame Retardancy and Polymer Flammability (Sergei V. Levchik). 1.1 Introduction. 1.2 Polymer Combustion and Testing. 1.3 Flame Retardancy. 1.4 Conclusions and Future Outlook. References. 2 Fundamentals of Polymer Nanocomposite Technology (E. Manias, G. Polizos, H. Nakajima, and M. J. Heidecker). 2.1 Introduction. 2.2 Fundamentals of Polymer Nanocomposites. 2.3 Effects of Nanofillers on Material Properties. 2.4 Future Outlook. References. 3 Flame Retardant Mechanism of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites (Jeffrey W. Gilman). 3.1 Introduction. 3.2 Flame Retardant Mechanism. 3.3 Conclusions and Future Outlook. References. 4 Molecular Mechanics Calculations of the Thermodynamic Stabilities of Polymer-Carbon Nanotube Composites (Stanislav I. Stoliarov and Marc R. Nyden). 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Background and Context. 4.3 Description of the Method. 4.4 Application to PS-CNT Composites. 4.5 Uncertainties and Limitations. 4.6 Summary and Conclusions. References. 5 Considerations Regarding Specific Impacts of the Principal Fire Retardancy Mechanisms in Nanocomposites (Bernhard Schartel). 5.1 Introduction. 5.2 Influence of Nanostructured Morphology. 5.3 Fire Retardancy Effects and Their Impact on the Fire Behavior of Nanocomposites. 5.4 Assessment of Fire Retardancy. 5.5 Summary and Conclusions. References. 6 Intumescence and Nanocomposites: a Novel Route for Flame-Retarding Polymeric Materials (Serge Bourbigot and Sophie Duquesne). 6.1 Introduction. 6.2 Basics of Intumescence. 6.3 Zeolites as Synergistic Agents in Intumescent Systems. 6.4 Intumescents in Polymer Nanocomposites. 6.5 Nanofillers as Synergists in Intumescent Systems. 6.6 Critical Overview of Recent Advances. 6.7 Summary and Conclusion. References. 7 Flame Retardant Properties of Organoclays and Carbon Nanotubes and Their Combinations with Alumina Trihydrate (Gunter Beyer). 7.1 Introduction. 7.2 Experimental Process. 7.3 Organoclay Nanocomposites. 7.4 Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites. 7.5 Summary and Conclusions. References. 8 Nanocomposites with Halogen and Nonintumescent Phosphorus Flame Retardant Additives (Yuan Hu and Lei Song). 8.1 Introduction. 8.2 Preparation Methods and Morphological Study. 8.3 Thermal Stability. 8.4 Mechanical Properties. 8.5 Flammability Properties. 8.6 Flame Retardant Mechanism. 8.7 Summary and Conclusions. References. 9 Thermoset Fire Retardant Nanocomposites (Mauro Zammarano). 9.1 Introduction. 9.2 Clays. 9.3 Thermoset Nanocomposites. 9.4 Epoxy Nanocomposites Based on Cationic Clays. 9.5 Epoxy Nanocomposites Based on Anionic Clays. 9.6 Polyurethane Nanocomposites. 9.7 Vinyl Ester Nanocomposites. 9.8 Summary and Conclusions. References. 10 Progress in Flammability Studies of Nanocomposites with New Types of Nanoparticles (Takashi Kashiwagi). 10.1 Introduction. 10.2 Nanoscale Oxide-Based Nanocomposites. 10.3 Carbon-Based Nanocomposites. 10.4 Discussion of Results. 10.5 Summary and Conclusions. References. 11 Potential Applications of Nanocomposites for Flame Retardancy (A. Richard Horrocks and Baljinder K. Kandola). 11.1 Introduction. 11.2 Requirements for Nanocomposite System Applications. 11.3 Potential Application Areas. 11.4 Future Outlook. References. 12 Practical Issues and Future Trends in Polymer Nanocomposite Flammability Research (Alexander B. Morgan and Charles A. Wilkie). 12.1 Introduction. 12.2 Polymer Nanocomposite Structure and Dispersion. 12.3 Polymer Nanocomposite Analysis. 12.4 Changing Fire and Environmental Regulations. 12.5 Current Environmental Health and Safety Status for Nanoparticles. 12.6 Commercialization Hurdles. 12.7 Fundamentals of Polymer Nanocomposite Flammability. 12.8 Future Outlook. References. Index.

Flame retardant polymer nanocomposites

The comparative study of the intumescent formulations (poly propylene-ammonium polyphosphate-pentaerythritol) and (polypropylene- ammonium pyrophosphate-pentaerythritol) shows that the highest fire retar dance property of the second system may be related to the existence of a protective carbonaceous coating stable in the temperature range 300-550°C. Comparatively, the stability of the carbonaceous coating on the first system is only observed between 300 and 420°C. A 31P N.M.R. study shows the presence (in the carbon-based layers) of acidic phosphate species (Lewis acids) which result from the thermal degradation of the additive mixtures. In the particular case of (PP-PPA-PER), these species degrade at 420 ° C to give phosphorus oxide. The study reveals that, with (PP-PY-PER), an additional protective char (stable in the temperature range 420-550°C) is formed by a reaction between the Lewis acids and the oxidized products of the thermo-oxidative degradation of the polymer.

Thermal Behaviours of Ammonium Polyphosphate-Pentaerythritol and Ammonium Pyrophosphate-Pentaerythritol Intumescent Additives in Polypropylene Formulations

Najib Ouassou

Papers

Thermal Behaviours of Ammonium Polyphosphate-Pentaerythritol and Ammonium Pyrophosphate-Pentaerythritol Intumescent Additives in Polypropylene Formulations

Fire retardance of polypropylene: Action of diammonium pyrophosphate-pentaerythritol intumescent mixture

Fire retardance of polypropylene by diammonium pyrophosphate-pentaerythritol: Spectroscopic characterization of the protective coatings