The behavior of a fire retardant in polypropylene is studied in order to improve the understanding of its activity in terms of its chemical behavior. The effect of a N-alkoxy hindered amine light stabilizer upon the fire performance of this system is also considered. The authors relate fire performance (UL 94, OI, NOI) and thermal analyses (TGA and thin film FTIR) results to cone calorimeter fire growth curves, in an attempt to extract meaning beyond peak heat release rate and time to ignition. It has been found that the fire retardant acts in both the condensed and gas phases and dynamic kinetic studies suggest that it acts by destabilizing the polymer. The addition of the light stabilizer augments the performance of the fire retardant.
Kojoh, S.-I. and Kashiwa, N. (2004). Establishment of de facto Standard Catalysts in the Polypropylene Industry, The Chemical Record, 3: 342—349.
2.
Redoutey, J. (2005). Nanoparticles: Opportunities in Durable Goods , http://www.lehigh.edu/lnn/documents/MinTech_RedouteySept05.ppt#256,1 , Nanoparticles: Opportunities in Durable Goods (Last accessed Mar2007).
3.
Bourbigot, S. and Le Bras, M. (2004). Flame Retardant Plastics, In: Troitzsch, J. (ed.), Plastics Flammability Handbook:Principles, Regulations, Testing and Approval, pp. 133—157, 3rd edn, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich , Germany.
4.
Georlette, P., Simons, J. and Costa, L. (2000). Halogen-containing Fire-retardant Compounds, In: Grand, A.F. and Wilkie, C.A. (eds), Fire Retardancy of Polymeric Materials , pp. 245—284, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York.
5.
Troitzsch, J.H. (1983). Methods for the Fire Protection of Plastics and Coatings by Flame Retardant and Intumescent Systems, Progress in Organic Coatings, 11(1): 41—69.
6.
Fink, U. and Troitzsch, J. (2004). The Market Situation, In: Troitzsch, J. (ed.), Plastics Flammability Handbook:Principles, Regulations, Testing and Approval, pp. 8—32, 3rd edn, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich , Germany.
7.
Zhang, S. and Horrocks, A.R. (2003). A Review of Flame Retardant Polypropylene Fibres, Progress in Polymer Science, 28(11): 1517—1538.
8.
Weil, E.D. (2000). Synergists, Adjuvants, and Antagonists in Flame-retardant Systems, In: Grand, A.F. and Wilkie, C.A. (eds), Fire Retardancy of Polymeric Materials, pp. 115—145, Marcel Dekker Inc, New York, NY.
9.
Lewin, M. (1999). Synergistic and Catalytic Effects in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials — An Overview, Journal of Fire Sciences, 17(1): 3—19.
10.
Ranken, P.F. (2000). Flame Retardants, In: Zweifel, H. (ed.), Plastics Additives Handbook, pp. 681—698, 5th edn, Hanser Publishers, Munich.
11.
Yang, C.-P. and Lee, T.-W. (1986). Synthesis and Properties of 4-Hydroxy-2,3,5,6-Tetrabromobenzyl Phosphonates and Effects of their Flame Retardance on Impact Polystyrene, Journal of AppliedPolymer Science, 32(1): 3005—3025.
12.
Gijsman, P. (2002). New Synergists for Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers, Polymer, 43: 1573—1579.
13.
SpecialChem. Hindered amine stabilizers, http://www.specialchem4adhesives.com/tc/uv-light-stabilizers/index.aspx?id=hals (Last accessed Feb 2007).
14.
Sinturel, C., Lemaire, J. and Gardette, J.-L. (2000). Photooxidation of Fire Retarded Polypropylene. III. Mechanism of HAS Inactivation, European Polymer Journal , 36: 1431—1443.
15.
Antos, K. and Sedlar, J. (2005). Influence of Brominated Flame Retardant Thermal Decomposition Products on HALS, Polymer Degradation and Stability , 90: 188—194.
16.
Pfaendner, R. (2006). How Will Additives Shape the Future of Plastics?, Polymer Degradation and Stability , 91: 2249—2256.
17.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holding Inc. inventor ( 1999). Flame Retardant Compositions, The World Patent No. WO 99/00450, Patent application pending.
18.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. inventor (2002 ). Flame Retardant Compositions, United States Patent No. 6,472,456 B1. Patent is still current.
19.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. inventor (2004 ). Flame Retardant Compositions, United States Patent No. 6,800,678 B2. Patent is still current.
20.
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. inventor (2006). Flame Retardant Compositions, United States Patent No. 7,109,260. Patent is still current.
21.
Kaprinidis, N. , Shields, P. and Leslie, G. (2002). Antimony Free Flame Retardant Systems Containing Flamestab NOR 116 For Polypropylene Molding, Flame Retardants Conference2002, London.
22.
Nicolas, R.C. , Wilen, C-E., Roth, M., Pfaendner, R. and King Iii, R.E. ( 2006). Azoalkanes: A Novel Class of Flame Retardants, Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 27: 976—981.
23.
Pfaendner, R. (2006). Nitroxyl Radicals and Nitroxylethers beyond Stabilization: Radical Generators for Efficient Polymer Modification, C. R. Chimie, 9: 1338—1344.
24.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. ( 2000). Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances. UL 94 Standard.
25.
Grand, A.F. (2004). Use of the Cone Calorimeter for Evaluation of Plastics used in Containers for Flammable Materials, http://www.mcclureindustries.com/pdf/Cone.pdf (Last accessed Dec 2006).
26.
Hong, S., Yang, J., Ahn, S., Mun, Y. and Lee, G. ( 2004). Flame Retardancy Performance of Various UL94 Classified Materials Exposed to External Ignition Sources, Fire and Materials , 28(1): 25—31.
Costa, L., Luda, M.P. and Trossarelli, L. (2000). Mechansim of Condensed Phase Action in Flame Retardants. Synergistic Systems Based on Halogen-metal Compounds, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 68: 67—74.
29.
International Organisation for Standardisation. (1996). Plastics — Determination of Burning behaviour by Oxygen Index — Part 2: Ambient Temperature Test , International Standard ISO4589-2.
30.
Ebdon, J.R., Hunt, B.J., Joseph, P., Konkel, C.S., Price, D., Pyrah, K., Hull, T.R., Milnes, G.J., Hill, S.B., Lindsay, C.I., McCluskey, J. and Robinson, I. (2000). Thermal Degradation and Flame Retardance in Copolymers of Methyl Methacrylate with Diethyl(Methacryloyloxymethyl) Phosphonate, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 70(3): 425-436.
31.
Babrauskas, V. (1992). The Effects of FR Agents on Polymer Performance , In: Babrauskas, V. and Grayson, S.J. (eds), Heat Release in Fires , pp. 423—446, Elsevier Applied Science, London.
32.
Babrauskas, V. (1984). Development of the Cone Calorimeter — A Bench Scale Heat Release Apparatus Based on Oxygen Consumption , Fire and Materials, 8(2): 81.
33.
Koppers, M. (2004). Smoke Development of Fire Effluents, In: Troitzsch, J. (ed.), Plastics Flammability Handbook: Principles, Regulations, Testing and Approval, pp. 612—627, 3rd edn, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich , Germany.
34.
International Organisation for Standardisation ( 2002). Reaction-to-fire- Heat Release, Smoke Production and Mass Loss Rate — Part 1: Heat Release Rate (Cone Calorimeter Method) , International Standard ISO5660-1.
35.
Horowitz, H.H. and Metzger, G. (1963). A New Analysis of Thermogravimetric Traces, Analytical Chemistry, 35(10): 1464—1474.
36.
Van Krevelen, D.E., Van Heerden, C. and Huntjens, F.J. (1951). Physicochemical Aspects of the Pyrolysis of Coal and Related Organic Compounds, Fuel , 30(11): 253—259.
37.
Hindersinn, R.R. and Witschard, G. (1978). The Importance of Intumescence and Char in Polymer Fire Retardance, In: Kuryla, W.C. and Papa, A.J. (eds), Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials, 4, pp. 1—107, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, N.Y.
38.
Camino, G. and Costa, L. (1988). Performance and Mechanisms of Fire Retardants in Polymers — A Review, Polymer Degradation and Stability , 20(3-4): 271—294.
39.
Casu, A., Camino, G., De Giorgi, M., Flath, D., Morone, V. and Zenoni, R. (1997). Fire-retardant Mechanistic Aspects of Melamine Cyanurate in Polyamide Copolymer, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 58: 297—302.
40.
Fenimore, C.P. (1975). Candle-type Test for Flammability of Polymers, In: Lewin, M., Atlas, S.M. and Pearce, E.M. (eds), Flame Retardant Polymeric Materials, Vol. 1, pp. 371—397, Plenum Press, New York.
41.
Li, B. and Wang, J. (1997). A Cone Calorimeter Study of Flame Retardance and Smoke Emission of PVC. I. The Effect of Cuprous and Molybdic Oxides, Journal of Fire Sciences, 15(5): 341—357.
42.
Tewarson, A. (1980). Heat Release Rate in Fires , Fire and Materials, 4(4): 185—191.
43.
Gambiroza-Jukic, M. and Cunko, R. (1992). Kinetics of the Thermal Degradation of Polypropylene Fibres, Acta Polymerica, 43(5): 258—260.
44.
Mucha, M. and Kryszewski, M. (1973). Studies of Decomposition of Polymer Blends by Thermogravimetric Method, Journal of Polymer Science, Symposium No. 42: 1313—1320.
45.
Albano, C. and De Freitas, E. (1998). Thermogravimentric Evaluation of the Kinetics of Decomposition of Polyolefin Blends, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 61(2): 289—295.
46.
Roeder, J., Oliveira, R.V.B., Becker, D., Goncalves, M.W., Soldi, V. and Pires, A.T.N. (2005). Compatibility Effect on the Thermal Degradation Behaviour of Polypropylene Blends with Polyamide 6, Ethylene Propylene Diene Copolymer and Polyurethane, Polymer Degradation and Stability , 90(3): 481—487.
47.
Kiran, E. and Gillham, J.K. (1976). Pyrolysis-molecular Weight Chromatography: A New On-line System for Analysis of Polymers. II. Thermal Decomposition of Polyolefins: Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyisobutylene, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 20(8): 2045—2068.
48.
Lattimer, R.P. (1993). Direct Analysis of Polypropylene Compounds by Thermal Desorption and Pyrolysis—Mass Spectrometry, Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 26(2): 65—92.
49.
Lattimer, R.P. (1995). Pyrolysis Field Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Polyolefins, Journal of Applied and Analytical Pyrolysis, 31(February): 203—225.
50.
McCoy, B.J. (1999). Distribution Kinetics for Temperature-programmed Pyrolysis, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 38(12): 4531—4537.
51.
Colthup, N.B. , Daly, L.H. and Wiberley, S.E. (1990). Introduction to Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy, 3rd edn, Academic Press, USA.
52.
Socrates, G. (2001). Infrared and Raman Characteristic Group Frequencies , 3rd edn, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England.
