<br/><br/>Flame retardant additives can prevent polymers from catching fire, reduce smoke production during a fire, and work to extinguish a fire. Some metal salts, such as magnesium hydroxide, can increase flame retardancy of polymers. However, due to poor miscibility, these metal salts have not been incorporated to their full potential. In an in-lab study, zinc acrylate was reacted into the backbone of thiol-ene networks up to 10% incorporation to study the efficacy of this new flame retardant additive. These composites were studied via cone calorimetry, where it was found that the zinc acrylate degraded to form a continuous zinc oxide char layer, effectively reducing heat release rate and smoke production. This research was then translated into a classroom activity to help students understand types of reactions and polymer flammability with hands-on experience. Using a quick cure epoxy, students were able to investigate different additives for their flame retardant properties utilizing the UL-94 testing methods for polymer flammability. This allowed students to investigate different types of reactions, such as combustion and oxidation, and understand how different additives might break down during pyrolysis.

Investigating the efficacy of flame retardant additives in polymeric materials: understanding types of reactions in the classroom

ACS Spring 2022

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