Polyurethanes are widely used for many commercial and industrial applications such as foams for bedding or furniture, coatings, and insulation. However, they are highly combustible and produce a dense smoke and potentially toxic off gases upon ignition. To reduce the flammability of polyurethanes flame retardants are included as an additive or incorporated into the polymer backbone. One class of flame retardants that is often used is brominated flame retardants (BFR). BFRs significantly reduce the flammability of polyurethanes but their use is under increased scrutiny due to their environmental and safety issues. BFRs are environmentally persistent and bioaccumlative in addition to being suspected of causing neurological problems in humans and animals. To circumvent the problems with BFRs, novel flame retardants are needed and research within our lab has shown ferrocene to be a promising candidate. Ferrocene polyols are easily synthesized and incorporated into the polymer backbone. However, little research has been reported on ferrocenium salts. Ferrocenium toluene sulfonate was synthesized by oxidizing ferrocene with quinone using PTSA as the acid. The ferrocenium salt was then blended into polyol at various amounts prior to the addition of the isocyanate to determine its flame retardancy. The results of the horizontal flame testing and TGA will be presented along with possible synergistic effects with halloysite.

Flame retardant properties of ferrocenium salts in polyurethanes

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