Fire safety is requisite in any industry be it construction, automobile, electrical or aerospace. An important aspect considered when speaking of fire safety is slowing down the spread. Flame retardant polymers are chemical compounds that do exactly this; retarding the spread of fire, hence giving more escape time. Fire safety is requisite in any industry be it construction, automobile, electrical or aerospace. An important aspect considered when speaking of fire safety is slowing down the spread. Flame retardant polymers are chemical compounds that do exactly this; retarding the spread of fire, hence giving more escape time.
When a flame retardant is chemically added into a polymer molecule (reactive flame retardant) or physically bonded with the polymer (additive flame retardant), we generate a flame retardant polymer. Flame retardants may be halogenated, phosphorous based, melamine based, silicon-based, phosphate-based or metal hydroxide based. While polymers like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene blend best with phosphorus based and halogenated flame retardants, Polyamides like Nylon 6 and Nylon 6,6 use red phosphorus as a flame retardant.Heat, oxygen and oil are the three combustible materials that fuel fire. A flame retardant polymer also called as a fire-safe or fire-retardant polymer works by removing one of these three from the equation. This, they achieve in three ways:
- By delaying the combustion process or reducing the flammability by chemical reactions.
- By encapsulating oxygen to impede the fire-propagating elements.
- By creating an endothermic environment to cool off the fuel.
The most effective fire retardant polymers are those synthesised as intrinsically fire-resistant. However, this process is costly and quite complicated. So alternatively, the polymer properties are modified, polar monomers are used or hydrogen bonding is introduced between the polymer chains to achieve increased intrinsic fire resistance and rigidity. Recently, researchers are considering nanocomposites as an additive owing to its low cost and high flexibility.
The wiring and cables in our houses, key segments in electrical and electronic appliances and automotives, upholstery like carpets and curtains; all are made up of flame retardant polymers. This omnipresent compound, which is so much a part of our daily life, is irreplaceable!
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