A phosphorus–silicon synergistic strategy for polyurethane: constructing ceramicized hybrid char for enhanced flame retardancy
摘要
Polyurethane (PU) are widely used in construction, transportation, and industrial sectors due to their excellent mechanical properties and flexibility. However, its inflammability severely limits its application. This work proposes a method of synergistic modification using DOPO-HQ and montmorillonite (MMT). The flame retardancy of polyurethane is significantly improved through interface chemical regulation and physical layer barrier. It was found that this system exhibits a typical threshold effect. The material's flame retardancy is significantly enhanced significantly when the MMT content reaches 3 wt%. The oxygen index increases (UL-94) from Fail to V-1. The peak heat release rate and total heat release amount decreased by 33% and 30%, respectively, at 5 wt%. The fire hazard index decreased by more than half. The residual carbon characterization shows that the polyphosphoric acid generated reacts with the MMT layers during combustion. A Si–O–P ceramicized network was constructed. The carbon layer was endowed with excellent compactness and stability. Thus, a triple flame-retardant mechanism of catalytic char formation, physical barrier and ceramicization enhancement was achieved. This study not only reveals the mechanism rules of flame-retardant modification for polyurethane, but also provides new design ideas for the development of low-smoke, efficient and sustainable flame-retardant materials.