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Polymers
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Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers
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Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 13667

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yuan Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Hazardous Chemicals Safety and Control, College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Interests: polymers; epoxy resin; fire-retardant; explosion
Dr. Zhongwei Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Safety Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
Interests: flame retardancy; fire safety; mechanical properties; polymer materials; epoxy resins

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers have found wide-ranging applications in diverse areas of human life since their invention. However, the flammability of many polymers has hindered their use in emerging fields. To address this issue, the addition of additive or in situ reinforcing flame retardants, and the development of inherently flame-retardant polymers and coatings have been considered as effective strategies. This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research and developments in the field of flame-retardant polymers, providing a platform for researchers and experts to share innovative methods, novel materials, and cutting-edge technologies for enhancing polymer flame retardancy. By tackling key challenges related to fire safety, these articles will advance flame-retardant polymer technology and its applications across industries.

Dr. Yuan Yu
Dr. Zhongwei Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • polymers
  • additive flame-retardant
  • in situ reinforcing flame-retardant
  • coating
  • flame retardancy
  • material science

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 17829 KiB  
Article
Thermal Degradation and Chemical Analysis of Flame-Retardant-Treated Jute Fabrics
by Most. Setara Begum, Michael Hummel, Sumit Mandal, Shahriare Mahmood, Md. Reazuddin Repon and Rimvydas Milašius
Polymers 2024, 16(14), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16142049 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1263
Abstract
Jute is an inherent lignocellulosic fiber, consisting of hemicellulose, α-cellulose, and lignin. Industrial ventilation, automotive composites, upholstery, carpets, military uniforms, hospital furnishings, and curtains necessitate the integration of flame-retardance properties into jute fibers. In this investigation, seven weave-structured jute fabrics were treated using [...] Read more.
Jute is an inherent lignocellulosic fiber, consisting of hemicellulose, α-cellulose, and lignin. Industrial ventilation, automotive composites, upholstery, carpets, military uniforms, hospital furnishings, and curtains necessitate the integration of flame-retardance properties into jute fibers. In this investigation, seven weave-structured jute fabrics were treated using an organophosphorus-based flame-retardant (FR) chemical (ITOFLAM CPN) and a crosslinking agent (KNITTEX CHN) by the pad–dry–cure method. The thermal stability, degradation and pyrolysis behavior of jute was measured using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Surface morphology and element distribution were scrutinized utilizing a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The ATR-FTIR (Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer) technique has been employed for analyzing the composition of chemicals in the jute fabrics. According to the protocols specified in ISO 14184-1, free formaldehyde detection was carried out on the jute fabrics. The flame-retardance property was significantly improved on all of the jute fabrics after FR treatment. FTIR and SEM-EDS studies revealed the presence of FR chemical deposition on the surface of the jute fabrics. TGA analysis indicated that the fabrics treated with FR exhibited premature degradation, leading to the generation of more char compared to untreated samples. The jute fabrics specifically demonstrated a notable enhancement in residual mass, exceeding 50% after FR treatment. However, it is noteworthy that the FR-treated fabrics exhibited an elevated level of free formaldehyde content, surpassing the permissible limit of formaldehyde in textiles intended for direct skin contact. The residual mass loss percentage after ten washes of FR-treated fabrics remained in a range from 32% to 36%. Twill weave designed fabrics (FRD4 and FRD5) clearly showed a lower thermal degradation temperature than the other weaves used in this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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19 pages, 2782 KiB  
Article
Mechanical, Flame-Retardant and Dielectric Properties of Intumescent Flame Retardant/Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene through a Novel Dispersed Distribution Mode
by Jingwen Li, Yiliang Sun, Boming Zhang and Guocheng Qi
Polymers 2024, 16(10), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16101341 - 9 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1674
Abstract
The application of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene thermoplastic composites (GF/PP) is limited due to the inadequate flame retardancy of the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Apart from altering the composition of the flame retardants, the distribution modes of flame retardants also impact material performance. In [...] Read more.
The application of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene thermoplastic composites (GF/PP) is limited due to the inadequate flame retardancy of the polypropylene (PP) matrix. Apart from altering the composition of the flame retardants, the distribution modes of flame retardants also impact material performance. In this study, an alternative approach involving non-uniform distribution is proposed, namely, dispersed distribution, in which non-flame-retardant-content layers (NFRLs) and/or low-flame-retardant-content layers (LFRLs) are dispersed among high-flame-retardant-content layers (HFRLs). The mechanical, flame retardant and dielectric properties of GF/PP with intumescent flame retardant (IFR/GF/PP) are investigated comparatively under uniform, gradient, and dispersed distributions of the flame retardants. The results demonstrate that non-uniform distribution exhibits superior flame retardant performance compared to uniform distribution. Dispersed distribution enables IFR/GF/PP to attain enhanced mechanical properties and reduced dielectric constants while maintaining excellent flame-retardant properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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20 pages, 6782 KiB  
Article
Balanced Thermal Insulation, Flame-Retardant and Mechanical Properties of PU Foam Constructed via Cost-Effective EG/APP/SA Ternary Synergistic Modification
by Hongfu Li, Longtao Hou, Yunpeng Liu, Zhiyu Yao, Lixing Liang, Dangxin Tian, Chunhui Liu, Junqiang Xue, Linshan Zhan, Yongqi Liu, Zhilu Zhen and Kangmin Niu
Polymers 2024, 16(3), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16030330 - 25 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1912
Abstract
To address the challenge of balancing the mechanical, thermal insulation, and flame-retardant properties of building insulation materials, this study presented a facile approach to modify the rigid polyurethane foam composites (RPUFs) via commercial expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and silica aerogel (SA). [...] Read more.
To address the challenge of balancing the mechanical, thermal insulation, and flame-retardant properties of building insulation materials, this study presented a facile approach to modify the rigid polyurethane foam composites (RPUFs) via commercial expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and silica aerogel (SA). The resulting EG/APP/SA/RPUFs exhibited low thermal conductivity close to neat RPUF. However, the compressive strength of the 6EG/2APP/SA/RPUF increased by 49% along with achieving a V-0 flame retardant rating. The residual weight at 700 °C increased from 19.2 wt.% to 30.9 wt.%. Results from cone calorimetry test (CCT) revealed a 9.2% reduction in total heat release (THR) and a 17.5% decrease in total smoke production (TSP). The synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of APP/EG made significant contribution to the excellent flame retardant properties of EG/APP/SA/RPUFs. The addition of SA played a vital role in reducing thermal conductivity and enhancing mechanical performance, effectively compensating for the shortcomings of APP/EG. The cost-effective EG/APP/SA system demonstrates a positive ternary synergistic effect in achieving a balance in RPUFs properties. This study provides a novel strategy aimed at developing affordable building wall insulation material with enhanced safety features. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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19 pages, 24705 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of 9,10-Dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide-Based Derivative and Modified Sepiolite on Flame-Retarded Poly (Ethylene Oxide)–Poly (Butylene Adipate-Co-Terephthalate) Composites
by Weijiang Huang, Chunyun Tu, Qin Tian, Kui Wang, Chunlin Yang, Chao Ma, Xiaolu Xu and Wei Yan
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010045 - 22 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1540
Abstract
A 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO)-based derivative (PN-DOPO) combined with aluminium phosphates-coated sepiolite (Sep@AlPO4) was used to improve the flame retardance, thermal stability and mechanical performances of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends. The synergistic effects of PN-DOPO and Sep@AlPO4 on [...] Read more.
A 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO)-based derivative (PN-DOPO) combined with aluminium phosphates-coated sepiolite (Sep@AlPO4) was used to improve the flame retardance, thermal stability and mechanical performances of poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO)/poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends. The synergistic effects of PN-DOPO and Sep@AlPO4 on flame-retarded PEO/PBAT composites were systematically discussed. Results indicated that introducing 5 wt% Sep@AlPO4 with 10 wt% PN-DOPO into PEO/PBAT achieved a V-1 rating for the UL-94 test and increased the limiting oxygen index value to 23.7%. Moreover, the peak heat release rate (p-HRR), average HRR and total heat release values of PEO/PBAT/PN10%/Sep5% composites decreased by 35.6%, 11.0% and 23.0% compared with those of PEO/PBAT, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results confirmed that PN-DOPO/Sep@AlPO4 enhanced the initial thermal stability and char yield of PEO/PBAT matrix, and TGA/Fourier transform infrared spectrometry results revealed that the composites exhibited the characteristic absorption peaks of phosphorous-containing groups and an increase in gas-phase volatiles during thermal degradation. The morphological structures of the residues indicated that PN-DOPO and Sep@AlPO4 mixtures produced a more dense and continuous char layer on the composite surface during burning. Rheological behaviour revealed that higher complex viscosity and modulus values of PEO/PBAT/PN-DOPO/Sep@AlPO4 sample could also promote the crosslinking network structure of condensed phases during combustion. Furthermore, the PEO/PBAT/PN-DOPO/Sep@AlPO4 composites exhibited superior elongation at break and flexural performance than the PEO/PBAT system. All results demonstrated that the PEO/PBAT system modified with PN-DOPO/Sep@AlPO4 showed remarkable flame retardance, and improved thermal stability and mechanical properties, indicating its potential application in areas requiring fire safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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15 pages, 4935 KiB  
Article
Nano Boron Oxide and Zinc Oxide Doped Lignin Containing Cellulose Nanocrystals Improve the Thermal, Mechanical and Flammability Properties of High-Density Poly(ethylene)
by Dilpreet S. Bajwa, Greg Holt, Nicole Stark, Sreekala G. Bajwa, Saptaparni Chanda and Mohiuddin Quadir
Polymers 2024, 16(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16010036 - 21 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1545
Abstract
The widely used high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer has inadequate mechanical and thermal properties for structural applications. To overcome this challenge, nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano boron oxide (B2O3) doped lignin-containing cellulose nanocrystals (L-CNC) were blended in the polymer [...] Read more.
The widely used high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer has inadequate mechanical and thermal properties for structural applications. To overcome this challenge, nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano boron oxide (B2O3) doped lignin-containing cellulose nanocrystals (L-CNC) were blended in the polymer matrix. The working hypothesis is that lignin will prevent CNC aggregation, and metal oxides will reduce the flammability of polymers by modifying their degradation pathways. This research prepared and incorporated safe, effective, and eco-friendly hybrid systems of nano ZnO/L-CNC and nano B2O3/L-CNC into the HDPE matrix to improve their physio-mechanical and fire-retardant properties. The composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, horizontal burning test, and microcalorimetry test. The results demonstrated a substantial increase in mechanical properties and a reduction in flammability. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed some agglomeration and irregular distribution of the inorganic oxides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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13 pages, 9905 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Application of Hybrid Aluminum Dialkylphosphinates as Highly Efficient Flame Retardants for Polyamides
by Qiang Yao, Weihong Cao, Yueying Zhao and Tianbo Tang
Polymers 2023, 15(23), 4612; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15234612 - 4 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Hybrid aluminum dialkylphosphinates were synthesized from mixed diethyl-, ethylisobutyl-, and diisobutylphosphinates and Al3+ in water. The XRD, DSC, and TGA results of these Al phosphinates established that phosphinate ligands are randomly distributed in the species. The thermal and thermoxidative stabilities of the [...] Read more.
Hybrid aluminum dialkylphosphinates were synthesized from mixed diethyl-, ethylisobutyl-, and diisobutylphosphinates and Al3+ in water. The XRD, DSC, and TGA results of these Al phosphinates established that phosphinate ligands are randomly distributed in the species. The thermal and thermoxidative stabilities of the hybrid phosphinates were easily adjustable by varying the ratio of phosphinate ligands, a desirable feature for efficient flame retardants. The hybrid aluminum dialkylphosphinates with a relatively low ratio of diethylphosphinate demonstrated higher efficiency than Al diethylphosphinate and Al diisobutylphosphinate in flame-retarding polyamide 66. Detailed investigations on the thermal and thermoxidative stabilities of Al dialkylphosphinates and the morphologies of char obtained in UL-94 tests revealed that timely vaporization of degradation products of hybrid dialkylphosphinates at a temperature which closely matches the degradation temperature of polyamides and their ability to promote char formation of polyamides are two key factors which contribute to the excellent performance of hybrid aluminum dialkylphosphinates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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17 pages, 10529 KiB  
Article
Polycarbosilane/Divinylbenzene-Modified Magnesium Hydroxide to Enhance the Flame Retardancy of Ethylene–Vinyl Acetate Copolymer
by Siyuan Li, Chunfeng Wang, Guodong Wang, Yongliang Wang and Zhidong Han
Polymers 2023, 15(22), 4440; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15224440 - 17 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1395
Abstract
The thermal decomposition product of magnesium hydroxide (MH) is magnesium oxide (MgO), which serves as the foundational material for fireproof layer construction in the condensed phase. However, the weak interaction force between particles of MgO generated by thermal decomposition leads to the insufficient [...] Read more.
The thermal decomposition product of magnesium hydroxide (MH) is magnesium oxide (MgO), which serves as the foundational material for fireproof layer construction in the condensed phase. However, the weak interaction force between particles of MgO generated by thermal decomposition leads to the insufficient strength and poor adhesion ability of the fireproof layer. The fireproof layer was easily damaged and detached in this study, resulting in the low flame-retardant efficiency of MH. In this work, polycarbosilane (PCS) and divinyl benzene (DVB) were used to modify MH, and EVA/MH/PCS/DVB composites were made via melt blending. The flame-retardant properties of EVA/MH/PCS/DVB were evaluated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical combustion (UL-94), and a cone calorimeter (CONE). The thermal stability of the composites and flame retardants was analyzed using a thermogravimetric analyzer. The char layer structure was observed and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The results indicate that the LOI of the EVA/MH/PCS/DVB with 50 wt.% flame retardants in total was as high as 65.1, which increased by 160% in comparison with EVA/MH. Furthermore, the total smoke production (TSP) of the EVA/MH/PCS/DVB composite decreased by 22.7% compared to EVA/MH/PCS; the thermal stability of the MH/PCS/DVB and EVA/MH/PCS/DVB improved to some extent; and the compact residual char after the combustion of EVA/MH/PCS/DVB had fewer cracks due to the adhesive effect induced by PCS/DVB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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15 pages, 6265 KiB  
Article
Effect of Different Compatibilizers on the Mechanical, Flame Retardant, and Rheological Properties of Highly Filled Linear Low-Density Polyethylene/Magnesium Hydroxide Composites
by Beibei Sun, Li Dang, Qiuyan Bi, Rujie Li, Qiuhui Gong, Zhihao Wan and Shiai Xu
Polymers 2023, 15(20), 4115; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15204115 - 17 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1827
Abstract
Maleic anhydride-modified homopolymerized polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) and maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin elastomer (POE-g-MAH) were used as bulking agents to improve the poor processing and mechanical properties of highly filled composites due to high filler content. In this study, a series of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/magnesium [...] Read more.
Maleic anhydride-modified homopolymerized polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) and maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin elastomer (POE-g-MAH) were used as bulking agents to improve the poor processing and mechanical properties of highly filled composites due to high filler content. In this study, a series of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites were prepared by the melt blending method, and the effects of the compatibilizer on the mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and rheological behavior of the composites were investigated. The addition of the compatibilizer decreased the limiting oxygen index (LOI) values of the composites, but they were all greater than 30.00%, which belonged to the flame retardant grade. Mechanical property tests showed that the addition of the compatibilizer significantly increased the tensile and impact strengths of the LLDPE/60MH (MH addition of 60 wt%) composites. Specifically, the addition of 5 wt% POE-g-MAH increased 154.07% and 415.47% compared to the LLDPE/60MH composites, respectively. The rotational rheology test showed that the addition of the compatibilizer could effectively improve the processing flow properties of the composites. However, due to the hydrocarbon structure of the compatibilizer, its flame retardant properties were adversely affected. This study provides a strategy that can improve the processing and mechanical properties of highly filled composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Flame Retardant Polymers)
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