A NEW SYNERGIST FOR INTUMESCENT FLAME RETARDANT POLYPROPYLENE

The synergistic effects of silicotungstic acid (SiW12) as a catalyst in the phosphorus-nitrogen compounds AM-based intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) polypropylene (PP) were studied using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), the UL-94test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), real time Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS). TheLOI data show that SiW12 added to PP/IFR systems has a synergistic FR effect with an IFR additive named AM. The TGAdata show that SiW12 apparently increases the thermal stability of the PP/IFR systems at high temperature (T ＞ 500 ℃). TheFTIR results provide the positive evidence that IFR can improve the thermal stability of PP and SiW12 can induce a higherrate of formation of phosphoric acid and its derivatives. The LRS measurements provide useful information on thecarbonaceous microstructures. In short, a suitable amount of SiW12 (1.5 wt%) exertssynergistic effects with the IFR byincreasing the LOI value and the thermal stability at high temperature and promoting the formation of charred structures onthe burning PP surface.