scholarly journals Fire Phenomena of Rigid Polyurethane Foams

Polymers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Günther ◽  
Alessandra Lorenzetti ◽  
Bernhard Schartel

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) typically exhibit low thermal inertia, resulting in short ignition times and rapid flame spread. In this study, the fire phenomena of RPUFs were investigated using a multi-methodological approach to gain detailed insight into the fire behaviour of pentane- and water-blown polyurethane (PUR) as well as pentane-blown polyisocyanurate polyurethane (PIR) foams with densities ranging from 30 to 100 kg/m3. Thermophysical properties were studied using thermogravimetry (TG); flammability and fire behaviour were investigated by means of the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and a cone calorimeter. Temperature development in burning cone calorimeter specimens was monitored with thermocouples inside the foam samples and visual investigation of quenched specimens’ cross sections gave insight into the morphological changes during burning. A comprehensive investigation is presented, illuminating the processes taking place during foam combustion. Cone calorimeter tests revealed that in-depth absorption of radiation is a significant factor in estimating the time to ignition. Cross sections examined with an electron scanning microscope (SEM) revealed a pyrolysis front with an intact foam structure underneath, and temperature measurement inside burning specimens indicated that, as foam density increased, their burning behaviour shifted towards that of solid materials. The superior fire performance of PIR foams was found to be based on the cellular structure, which is retained in the residue to some extent.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daikun Jia ◽  
Yi Tong ◽  
Jin Hu

Flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foams incorporating N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol have been prepared. After adding N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol, the density and compressive strength of the polyurethane foams were seen to decrease. The flame retardancy of the polyurethane foams has been characterized by limiting oxygen index, upper limit–94, and cone calorimeter tests. The polyurethane foam with 2.27 wt% N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol gave a highest limiting oxygen index of 33.4%, and the peak heat release rate of polyurethane foam reduced to 19.5 kW/m2 from 47.6 kW/m2 of PU-0 without N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol. Upper limit–94 revealed N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol did not change the burning rating, and all polyurethane foams had passed V-0 rating. The thermal stability of polyurethane foams has been investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer. N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol significantly increased the initial decomposition temperature of polyurethane foams and their residues. In addition, the morphology of residual char from the flame-retarded polyurethane foams after cone calorimeter tests has also been characterized by digital photographs. The results indicated that N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol significantly enhanced the strength and compatibility of the char layer formed by the polyurethane foams. These results indicate that N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol can improve both the quality and quantity of the char, which has a significant effect on the flame-retardant properties of the foam.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 760-771
Author(s):  
Qirui Gong ◽  
Niangui Wang ◽  
Kaibo Zhang ◽  
Shizhao Huang ◽  
Yuhan Wang

A phosphaphenanthrene groups containing soybean oil based polyol (DSBP) was synthesized by epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and 9,10-dihydro-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO). Soybean oil based polyol (HSBP) was synthesized by ESO and H2O. The chemical structure of DSBP and HSBP were characterized with FT-IR and 1H NMR. The corresponding rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) were prepared by mixing DSBP with HSBP. The results revealed apparent density and compression strength of RPUFs decreased with increasing the DSBP content. The cell structure of RPUFs was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) which displayed the cells as spherical or polyhedral. The thermal degradation and flame retardancy of RPUFs were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index (LOI), and UL 94 vertical burning test. The degradation activation energy (Ea) of first degradation stage reduced from 80.05 kJ/mol to 37.84 kJ/mol with 80 wt% DSBP. The RUPF with 80 wt% DSBP achieved UL94 V-0 rating and LOI 28.3. The results showed that the flame retardant effect was mainly in both gas phase and condensed phase.


2011 ◽  
Vol 374-377 ◽  
pp. 1563-1566
Author(s):  
An Zhen Zhang ◽  
Yi He Zhang

Rigid polyurethane foams were excellent thermal insulation materials with widely used, which was highly flammable at the same time. In order to obtain safe application, flame retarded polyurethane foams were needed. In this paper, series flame retarded rigid polyurethane foams were prepared with loading different flame retardants such as ammonium polyphosphate, expandable graphite, red phosphorus, Tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate and dimethyl methylphosphonate. The effects of flame retardants on the foaming-process and flame retardant property of the rigid polyurethane foams were investigated by otary viscometer and limiting oxygen index. The results showed that the combination of solid and liquid flame retardants was necessary to improve the flame retardant and different flame retardants played synergistic roles in rigid polyurethane foams. The limiting oxygen indexes of the foams could be up to 30wt% and 29.6% with 25wt% solid flame retardants and 10wt% liquid retardants, respectively.


Polimery ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 46 (10) ◽  
pp. 692-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. PROCIAK ◽  
J. PIELICHOWSKI ◽  
M. MODESTI ◽  
F. SIMIONI ◽  
M. CHECCHIN

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