Preparation and Performance Study of a Novel Flame Retardant Polyurethane Phase Change Materials

Using three phosphorus oxychloride as coupling agents and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as phase change materials, a novel polyol containing flame retardant element P is prepared by bonding the polyethylene glycol in polyether polyol skeleton. Furthermore, the polyols containing flame retardant element P are used to react foamy with polyisocyanate to prepare a novel flame retardant polyurethane phase change materials (RPUF-PEG/P). Influences of that flame retardant element P and PEG on the flame retardancy, thermal stability and smoke-suppression property of RPUF-PEG/P were investigated using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurement, UL-94 horizontal burning level test, thermogravimetric analysis, smoke density test and cone calorimeter test. Results showed that flame retardant element P and PEG can endow RPUF-PEG/P with a great fame retardancy and thermal stability. The LOI of RPUF-PEG10/P9 was increased from 25.2 to 39.6% as compared to pure RPUF, and the density, heating rate and residual carbon content were 480 kg/m3, 0.95 degrees C/min and 21.46%, respectively, meeting the highest grade in UL-94 horizontal burning level test. Besides, the total heat release of RPUF-PEG10/P3 was 271.34 kw/m2, while the time to Ignition of RPUF-PEG10/P3 was increased from 4 to 22 s. Moreover, it is observed that PEG has a minimal impact on the flame retardancy and smoke generation, but the maximum smoke density, smoke density rating and total smoke production of RPUF-PEG/P increased as the increase of the P contents.