Polymer Flame Retardants

Organic polymers provide one of the most versatile groups of materials and have widespread uses. Due to some inherent deficiencies, mainly poor heat and flame resistance, these materials suffer from limitations in certain areas of application. The resistance of polymers to high temperatures and flame may be increased by the incorporation of both aromatic rings and certain chemical elements in the polymer chain. It has been found that phosphorus, present either as a constituent in the polymer chain or incorporated as an additive in the form of a phosphorus compound to the polymer system, can make polymers flame retardant [109]. 

Use of higher-performance polymers may suppress the demand for FRs in business machines. Flame retardancy has recently been reviewed [39], as well as the technology of halogen-free FR additives [44]. The future technology of polymer flame retardancy has been described [45]. 

Modem Polymer Flame Retardancy S.M. Lomakin and G.E. Zaikov... 

In this important class of additives, the halogen contributes to some extent to the flame retardancy although this contribution is offset by the lower phosphorus content. The halogens generally reduce vapor pressure and water solubility, thus aiding retention of these additives. Thus, more efficient and effective blending/manufacturing processes involved usually lead to a favorable economics of polymer flame retardation.26... 

As indicated in the introduction, not only the identification of promising polymer-flame retardant systems and promising additive combinations is at the focus of materials development, but also the amount and the optimization of the substances used. Such examples are shown in Figures 15.10... 

Samyn, F., Bourbigot, S., Jama, C., Bellayer, S., Nazare, S., Hull, R., Castrovinci, A., and Camino, G. (2008) Characterisation of the dispersion in polymer flame retarded nanocomposites, European Polymer Journal 44(6) 1631—1641. 

Holve, D. J., Sawyer, R. W. Polymer Flame Retardant Mechanisms Report ME-75-2, Berkeley Colledge of Engineering Department of Mechanical Engng. 1975 Margolin, A. D Krupkin, V. G. Dokl. AN SSSR, 257, 1369 (1981)... 

Morgan, A.B. Tour, J.M. Synthesis, flame-retardancy testing, and preliminary mechanism studies of nonhalogenated aromatic boronic acids a new class of condensed-phase polymer flame-retardant additives for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene and polycarbonate. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2000, 76, 1257-1268. 

Lomakin SM, Zaikov GE, Modern Polymer Flame Retardancy, VSP Int. Sci. Publ. Utrecht, Boston, 2003, 272. 

A.A.A. Aziz, S.M. Alauddin, R.M. Salleh, M. Sabet, hrfluence of magnesium hydroxide/aluminum tri-hydroxide particle size on polymer flame retardancy. Overview InL J. Chem. Eng. Appl. 3, 437 0 (2012)... 

To enable an effective use of polymers, flame-retardant materials have to be added to polymer-based formulations. The role of these additives is to... 

Lomakin, S.M. and Zaikov, G.F. (2003) Modern Polymer Flame Retardancy,... 

Lomakin, S. M. Zaikov, G. E. Ecological aspects of polymer flame retardancy , Utrecht, VSP International Ihibl., 1999,158. 

The basic polymer principles related to smart polymer flame retardancy and the relationship between flammability and polymer structure are also reviewed [296]. 

Flame retardants exert many different modes of action as a function of the chemical nahue of the polymer-flame-retardant systems and of the interactions between the components. It is considered that inhibition of burning is achieved by modification of either the condensed phase or the dispersed or gaseous phase in a physical and/or chemical mode. In the condensed phase, the following may occur [3] ... 

In 2003, the Teijin Advanced Films Limited joint venture with the Asahi Kasei Corporation was launched using polyparaphenylene terephthalamide to manufacture Aramica. Another Teijin joint venture, with the US Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, has involved the combination of the two companies worldwide brominated carbonate oligomer activities as part of their polymer flame retardant marketing operation. 

The information presented and the ideas developed in the monograph will be of interest to all those concerned with polymer flame retardation with respect to ecological concerns. 

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