Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Scientific Journal

Preparation of Flame Retardant Polystyrene via In-Situ Bulk Polymerization Method and Evaluation of its Flammability Properties

Document Type : Full article

Authors

Seyed Jamaleddin Peighambardoust 1
Ramin Faridvand 1
Abolfazl Shenavar 2

1 Faculty of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Tabriz

2 R&D Centre of Tabriz Petrochemical Complex (TPC)

Abstract
In this study, in-situ bulk polymerization was investigated for obtaining flame retardant polystyrene (PS). The halogenated and phosphoric compounds were used as flame retardant additives and Perkadox 30 was used as a synergist. The flammability of the PS was evaluated by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 tests. The results show that polymerization process for production of flame retardant polystyrene needs lower amount of flame retardant additives compare with the process for production of flame retardant composites. Furthermore, using Perkadox 30 as a synergist lowers the loading of flame retardant additives. LOI tests show that flame retardant polystyrene synthesized by adding at least 0.35 % (w/w) hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) during polymerization. TGA analysis confirms that with addition of HBCD the degradation temperature decreases and weight loss occurs quickly. The degradation tempresure of the sample consist of 0.8 % (w/w) HBCD was lower than the sample consist of 0.35 % (w/w) HBCD and 0.45 % (w/w) triphenylphosphate (TPP). The pure polystyrene didn’t pass the UL-94 test because of inflammability and greater dripping. For samples with HBCD, shorter time needed to quench the flame and these samples passed the UL-94 test. On the other hand, greater dripping of polymer melt led to transmission of UL-94 rate from V0 to V2. It is also observed that flaming rate for samples with TPP was very low and dripping didn’t occur.

Keywords

Styrene Monomer
In-Situ Bulk Polymerization
Flame retardant
thermal properties

Subjects

[1]   Tai, Q., Song, L., Feng, H., Tao, Y., Yuen, R. and Hu, Y., "Investigation of a combination of novel polyphosphoramide and boron-containing compounds on the thermal and flame-retardant properties of polystyrene", J. Polym. Res., 19 (2), 1 (2012).
[2]   Labuschagne, F.J.W.J., "Metal catalysed intumescence of polyhydroxyl compounds", Ph.D. Thesis (Chemical Engineering), University of Pretoria, (2005).
[3]   Kaspersma, J., Doumen, C., Munro, S. and Prins, A.M., "Fire retardant mechanism of aliphatic bromine compounds in polystyrene and polypropylene", Polymer Degradation and Stability, 77 (2), 325 (2002).
[4]   Weil, E.D. and Levchik, S.V., Flame retardants for plastics and textiles : Practical applications, Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co., KG, p. 35 (2009).
[5]   Beach, M.W., Rondan, N.G., Froese, R.D., Gerhart, B.B., Green, J.G., Stobby, B.G., Shmakov, A.G., Shvartsberg, V.M. and Korobeinichev, O.P., "Studies of degradation enhancement of polystyrene by flame retardant additives", Polymer Degradation and Stability, 93 (9), 1664 (2008).
[6]   Laoutid, F., Bonnaud, L., Alexandre, M., Lopez-Cuesta, J.M. and Dubois, P., "New prospects in flame retardant polymer materials: From fundamentals to
nanocomposites", Materials Science and Engineering: R: Reports, 63 (3), 100 (2009).
Iranian Journal of Chemical Engineering (IJChE)
Volume 13, Issue 4
Autumn 2016
Pages 62-70

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us