Mechanisms of the Action of Fire-Retardants on Reducing the Flammability of Certain Classes of Polymers and Glass-Reinforced Plastics Based on the Study of Their Combustion

Abstract

In the present review, using an integrated approach based on the experimental and theoretical study of the processes of thermal decomposition and combustion of practically important polymers, such as polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene, and glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, the features of the mechanism for reducing the combustibility of these materials with phosphorus-containing flame-retardants (FR), as well as graphene, are identified. A set of original experimental methods was developed and applied that make it possible to study the kinetics of thermal decomposition and the thermal and chemical structure of the flames of the studied materials, including those with FR additives, as well as to measure the flame propagation velocity, the mass burning rate, and the heat fluxes from the flame on the surface of a material. Numerical models were developed and tested to describe the key parameters of the flames of the studied polymeric materials. An analysis of the experimental and numerical simulation data presented showed that the main effect of phosphorus-containing fire-retardants on reducing the combustibility of these materials is associated with the inhibition of combustion processes in the gas phase, and the effect of adding graphene manifests itself in both gas and condensed phases.

Reinforced composite materials based on phosphorus-containing binders with promising physical, mechanical and fireproof properties

“…Существует четыре основных способа улучшения огнестойкости полимерных материалов: 1) включение наночастиц в состав полимерного связующего [5]; 2) модификация полимерной матрицы с помощью антипиренов [6,7,8]; 3) изолирование материала с помощью огнестойких пластин и 4) покрытие поверхности полимерного материала слоем антипирена [9,10]. Первые два метода наиболее распространены, поэтому в данной работе, именно они были использованы для улучшения огнестойких свойств эпоксидного и эфир(мет)акрилатных связующих.…”

Thermomechanical Properties of Polymers and Their Composites with Other Materials: Advances in Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polymeric Materials (2nd Edition)

“…The analysis of experimental data and numerical simulations of combustion/cocombustion processes for plastics and fuels indicates possibilities to optimize and conduct these processes, as well as offering further research directions [18,19].…”