Polyvinyl Chloride PVC Foams

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVQ Foams. Rigid PVC foam is inherently fire retardant because of the high chlorine content (56.7%). Flexible PVC foams present increased fire hazards because of the plasticizers they contain. Flammable plasticizers used include alkyl phthalates, as dioctyl phthalate. Non-burning types include alkyl aryl phosphates (phosphate esters). The latter types should improve resistance to ignition and reduce flame spread when compared to the usual phthalate plasticizers (38) (41). 

Phenolic Foams. Cured phenolic resins have good thermal stability and high tendency to char in an intensive fire. Even after the removal of the ignition source the foams often smolder and char until they are almost completely consumed. This phenomenon, called punking, is claimed to be overcome by the addition of boric acid/oxalic acid and ferric/aluminum chloride as the foaming catalysts. The addition of antimony compounds is also reported to decrease punking (38). 

The Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) at Crane, Indiana has developed improved fire-retardant phenolic foams containing blends of boric/oxalic acids as catalysts, as described above. The resultant foams were found to be extremely efficient fire barriers due to their high heat absorptivity, the amount of carbon and/or coke produced during pyrolysis, and the adhesion of the char to the burned materials. Other advantages of the foam during flaming and nonflaming pyrolysis are its low smoke emissions and lack of toxic fumes other than carbon monoxide. It takes one hour to reach 230°F (110°C) when a 13 Ib/tf (208 kg/m ) phenolic foam specimen 2.9 inches (7.4 cm) is exposed to a fully developed fire (41). 

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