Upon exposure to fire, polyurethane decomposes into highly flammable melt-pools and releases volatile, toxic gases. Newly developed trilayer (TL) thin films of sodium montmorillonite (MMT), poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(sodium phosphate) (PSP), prepared via layer-by-layer assembly, completely stop melting of open-celled polyurethane foam when exposed to the direct flame of a butane torch. Just 4 TL of the PSP/PAH/MMT nanobrick wall assembly (&lt; 3 wt% coating addition) reduces the pkHRR of polyether-based PU by 54.8%. SEM images of the TL coatings (&lt;20 nn thick) show swelling around urethane cell walls that suppresses flame spread and reduces heat transfer. This strategy, combining two flame-retarding mechanisms (thermal shielding clay and intumescing PAH/PSP) in a single nanocoating system, allows the polymeric component to play a more active role in the FR mechanism. These thin, water-based, environmentally benign nanocoatings provide a new platform for imparting flame retardant behavior polyurethane foam and likely many other flammable materials.

Thermally-responsive phosphorus-filled nanobrick wall multilayer thin film eliminates polyurethane melt dripping and reduces heat release associated with fire

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.