Flame retardancy of phosphorus-containing ionic liquid based epoxy networks

• Published in: Polymer degradation and stability Vol. 134; pp. 186 - 193
• Main Authors: Sonnier, Rodolphe, Dumazert, Loïc, Livi, Sébastien, Nguyen, Thi Khanh Ly, Duchet-Rumeau, Jannick, Vahabi, Henri, Laheurte, Pascal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2016; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Combustion; Curing; Curing agents; Epoxy networks; Flame retardancy; Flame retardants; Flammability; Graphitization; Heat measurement; Heat release rate; Ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Material chemistry; Phosphorus; Phosphorus flame retardant; Polymers; Pyrolysis; Thermogravimetric analysis; Flame retardancy; Epoxy networks; Phosphorus flame retardant; Ionic liquid
• ISSN: 0141-3910; 1873-2321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2016.10.009

Various amounts of a phosphonium ionic liquid (IL169) were used as curing agents as well as flame retardants of epoxy prepolymer in order to prepare epoxy networks with improved fire properties. The flame retardancy of these resins was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), pyrolysis-combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC) and cone calorimetry. Phosphonium ionic liquid significantly reduced flammability without further addition of flame retardants due to the high amount of phosphorus (up to 3.69 wt%). The Peak of heat release rate decreases from 1099 kW/m2 to 300 kW/m2 in cone calorimeter at 35 kW/m2 when incorporating 30 phr of IL169. Phosphorus modifies pyrolysis pathway, promotes charring and may act as flame inhibitor. The char layer protects the underlying polymer, leading to a high unburnt polymeric fraction. Char properties were studied using PCFC, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray tomography. Phosphorus improved the graphitization of the char and its thermo-oxidative stability.