Oxygen index flame retardancy

The UL flammability ratings describe the relative ease of ignition and combustibiUty of plastics. Tests include the measurement of flame propagation, time to self-extinguish, melt and drip with and without flame, and oxygen indexes. Some engineering plastics, eg, polyetherimides, are, as ranked by this test, inherently nonflammable. Others can be made nonflammable by compounding with flame retardants (ERs) such as bromine... 

Molybdenum Oxide. Molybdenum compounds incorporated into flexible PVC not only increase flame resistance, but also decrease smoke evolution. In Table 10 the effect of molybdenum oxide on the oxygen index of a flexible PVC containing 50 parts of a plasticizer is compared with antimony oxide. Antimony oxide is the superior synergist for flame retardancy but has Httle or no effect on smoke evolution. However, combinations of molybdenum oxide and antimony oxide may be used to reduce the total inorganic flame-retardant additive package, and obtain improved flame resistance and reduced smoke. 

Alumina Trihydrate. Alumina trihydrate is usually used as a secondary flame retardant in flexible PVC because of the high concentration needed to be effective. As a general rule the oxygen index of flexible poly(vinyl chloride) increases 1% for every 10% of alumina trihydrate added. The effect of alumina trihydrate on a flexible poly(vinyl chloride) formulation containing antimony oxide is shown in Figure 5. 

DMPPO—polystyrene blends, because of the inherent flame resistance of the DMPPO component (oxygen index ca 29.5), can be made flame retardant without the use of halogenated additives that tend to lower impact strength and melt stabiUty in other polymers. Approximately one-half of total Noryl sales volume is in flame-retarded grades, ie, VO or VI in a 1.6-mm section (UL-94). 

Table 1. Oxygen Index of PET Fibers Containing Phosphorus or Bromine Flame Retardants ...

Recent advances in the application of ultrafine talc for enhanced mechanical and thermal properties have been studied [12]. A particularly important use is of finely divided filler in TPO as a flame-retardant additive. In a representative formulation, 37 parts of E-plastomer, Ml 2.0, density 0.92, 60 parts of amorphous EPR, and 4 parts of fine carbon black were dry blended, kneaded at 180°C, pelletized, and press molded into test pieces, which showed oxygen index 32 versus 31 in the absence of a filler. The oxygen index is a measure of flame retardancy. 

Aryloxyphosphazene copolymers can also confer fireproof properties to flammable materials when blended. Dieck [591] have used the copolymers III, and IV containing small amounts of reactive unsaturated groups to prepare blends with compatible organic polymers crosslinkable by the same mechanism which crosslinks the polyphosphazene, e.g. ethylene-propylene and butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, poly(vinyl chloride), unsaturated urethane rubber. These blends were used to prepare foams exhibiting excellent fire retardance and producing low smoke levels or no smoke when heated in an open flame. Oxygen index values of 27-56 were obtained. 

We have recently evaluated the chlorendic imide/hindered phenol for its effect on the oxygen index of polyethylene, and we found only a miniscule increase, not considred statistically significant, in comparison to the same loading of chlorine as chlorendic anhydride. We believe that if the antioxidant approach to flame retardancy is to be successful, special high temperature antioxidant structures must be designed for this purpose. 

Polytetrafluoroethylene has an oxygen index of 95%, and is relatively impervious to gases. The use of a low level of finely divided PTFE as an antidripping additive in flame retardant polycarbonates is described in the patent literature, and is in commercial use (41). 

In flame retarding nonwovens, the contribution of components may not be additive. Rather, the interaction of binder, flame retardant, and substrate is critical in the performance of the flame retardant nonwoven. Similarly, the flammability of a binder film or the flammability of a flame retardant coated woven cloth often do not predict the flame retardancy of the same binder or flame retardant on a nonwoven substrate of rayon or polyester. Actual data on a nonwovens substrate is the only accurate measure of a system s flame retardancy. For this study, two widely used substrates were selected. The first, lightweight rando rayon, is representative of material used in nurse caps, surgeon s masks, and miscellaneous coverstock. This material is constructed of 1 1/2 denier fiber, weighs 1 1/2 ounces per square yard, and is relatively dense web. Rayon as a material is water absorbent, burns rather than melts, and is readily flammable. This fiber ignites around 400°C(2) and has an oxygen index of about 19.0. Certain binders adhere well to rayon while others do not. Apparently, this lack of affinity for the substrate affects flame retardancy, as will be demonstrated later. 

The performance of several latex binders in flame retardant testing of nonwoven polyester or rayon substrates with and without added flame retardants has been investigated. Correlation of coating flammability (i.e. by oxygen index) to actual performance on a substrate is poor. Results generated on both rayon and polyester... 

AS A FLAME RETARDANT. The zinc borate is an efficient synergist of organic halogen sources. In certain halogen-containing systems such as unsaturated polyester, epoxy (3), and rigid PVC, the zinc borate alone can outperform antimony oxide as shown by the Oxygen Index and UL-94 tests (Fig. 3, 4, and 5). 

Total additive loadings rarely exceed 1% of the finished resin. The criteria for ignition resistance are based on oxygen index and UL-94 ratings. The mode of action of the flame retardants is reported to be consistent with that of aromatic sulfonates as proposed by Webb (27). 

The brominated phosphate is an efficient flame retardant for polycarbonate resin. UL-94 ratings of V-0 with oxygen index values of greater than 40 are obtained. Polycarbonate resin containing brominated phosphate processes with greater ease than resin containing brominated polycarbonate as measured by injection molding spiral flow measurements. The heat distortion temperature is reduced... 

Brominated phosphate is a very efficient flame retardant as measured by oxygen index and UL-94 (Table IX and Figure 4). The melt index of the resin does not change with the addition of brominated polycarbonate, doubles with brominated polystyrene, and doubles again with brominated phosphate (Table IX). 

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