Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of carbon fibers on the flammability and smoke emission characteristics of halogen-free thermoplastic polyurethane/ammonium polyphosphate

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present study, the effects of carbon fibers (CFs) on flame retardancy, smoke emission, thermal and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/ammonium polyphosphate (APP) are investigated. The cone calorimeter results show that the combination of 15.00 wt% APP + 5.00 wt% CF greatly lowered peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release, as well as increased char residue, which is due to a compact char layer formed on the ablating surface of TPU-4 composites, as shown by the SEM results. Smoke suppression properties investigated by smoke density test demonstrate that CF combined with APP greatly reduced the smoke emission. The TPU composite containing 5.00 wt% CF has the highest LOI value of all the intumescing composites studied. Meanwhile, the addition of CF also caused enhanced mechanical properties of TPU composites to a certain degree. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis indicates that CF combined with APP enhanced the high-temperature thermal stability of TPU composites compared with the pristine TPU, due to the increase of the char residue. Thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG–IR) results demonstrate that CF could catalyze the further decomposition of TPU composites and remarkably reduce the production of aromatic compounds as a smoke precursor, which are the major parts of smoke.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Chen X, Zhuo J, Jiao C (2012) Thermal degradation characteristics of flame retardant polylactide using TG-IR. Polym Degrad Stab 97(11):2143–2147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bocz K, Bárány T, Toldy A, Bodzay B, Csontos I, Madi K, Marosi G (2013) Self-extinguishing polypropylene with a mass fraction of 9% intumescent additive-A new physical way for enhancing the fire retardant efficiency. Polym Degrad Stab 98(1):79–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jiao C, Zhao X, Song W, Chen X (2015) Synergistic flame retardant and smoke suppression effects of ferrous powder with ammonium polyphosphate in thermoplastic polyurethane composites. J Therm Anal Calorim 120(2):1173–1181. doi:10.1007/s10973-014-4377-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Jiang S, Gui Z, Shi Y, Zhou K, Yuan B, Bao C, Lo S, Hu Y (2014) Bismuth subcarbonate nanoplates for thermal stability, fire retardancy and smoke suppression applications in polymers: a new strategy. Polym Degrad Stab 107:1–9. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.04.027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Haile M, Fomete S, Lopez ID, Grunlan JC (2015) Aluminum hydroxide multilayer assembly capable of extinguishing flame on polyurethane foam. J Mater Sci. doi:10.1007/s10853-015-9258-8

    Google Scholar 

  6. Fox DM, Novy M, Brown K, Zammarano M, Harris RH, Murariu M, McCarthy ED, Seppala JE, Gilman JW (2014) Flame retarded poly(lactic acid) using POSS-modified cellulose. 2. Effects of intumescing flame retardant formulations on polymer degradation and composite physical properties. Polym Degrad Stab 106:54–62. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2014.01.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lu S-Y, Hamerton I (2002) Recent developments in the chemistry of halogen-free flame retardant polymers. Prog Polym Sci 27(8):1661–1712

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mochane MJ, Luyt AS (2015) Synergistic effect of expanded graphite, diammonium phosphate and Cloisite 15A on flame retardant properties of EVA and EVA/wax phase-change blends. J Mater Sci 50(9):3485–3494. doi:10.1007/s10853-015-8909-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhang Q, Zhan J, Zhou K, Lu H, Zeng W, Stec AA, Hull TR, Hu Y, Gui Z (2015) The influence of carbon nanotubes on the combustion toxicity of PP/intumescent flame retardant composites. Polym Degrad Stab 115:38–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Sain M, Park SH, Suhara F, Law S (2004) Flame retardant and mechanical properties of natural fibre–PP composites containing magnesium hydroxide. Polym Degrad Stab 83(2):363–367. doi:10.1016/s0141-3910(03)00280-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhu H, Zhu Q, Li J, Tao K, Xue L, Yan Q (2011) Synergistic effect between expandable graphite and ammonium polyphosphate on flame retarded polylactide. Polym Degrad Stab 96(2):183–189. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.11.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang T, Yan H, Peng M, Wang L, Ding H, Fang Z (2013) Construction of flame retardant nanocoating on ramie fabric via layer-by-layer assembly of carbon nanotube and ammonium polyphosphate. Nanoscale 5(7):3013–3021. doi:10.1039/c3nr34020a

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kurt R, Mengeloglu F, Meric H (2011) The effects of boron compounds synergists with ammonium polyphosphate on mechanical properties and burning rates of wood-HDPE polymer composites. Eur J Wood Wood Prod 70(1–3):177–182. doi:10.1007/s00107-011-0534-2

    Google Scholar 

  14. Park J-M, Kwon D-J, Wang Z-J, Roh J-U, Lee W-I, Park J-K, Lawrence DeVries K (2014) Effects of carbon nanotubes and carbon fiber reinforcements on thermal conductivity and ablation properties of carbon/phenolic composites. Compos B Eng 67:22–29. doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.06.022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Barick AK, Tripathy DK (2012) Preparation and characterization of carbon nanofiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 124(1):765–780. doi:10.1002/app.35066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Wu Q, Zhu W, Zhang C, Liang Z, Wang B (2010) Study of fire retardant behavior of carbon nanotube membranes and carbon nanofiber paper in carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Carbon 48(6):1799–1806. doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2010.01.023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Cheng K-C, Lin Y-H, Guo W, Chuang T-H, Chang S-C, Wang S-F, Don T-M (2014) Flammability and tensile properties of polylactide nanocomposites with short carbon fibers. J Mater Sci 50(4):1605–1612. doi:10.1007/s10853-014-8721-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hergenrother PM, Thompson CM, Smith JG, Connell JW, Hinkley JA, Lyon RE, Moulton R (2005) Flame retardant aircraft epoxy resins containing phosphorus. Polymer 46(14):5012–5024. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2005.04.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Toldy A, Szolnoki B, Marosi G (2011) Flame retardancy of fibre-reinforced epoxy resin composites for aerospace applications. Polym Degrad Stab 96(3):371–376. doi:10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2010.03.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Laoutid F, Bonnaud L, Alexandre M, Lopez-Cuesta J-M, Dubois P (2009) New prospects in flame retardant polymer materials: from fundamentals to nanocomposites. Mater Sci Eng 63(3):100–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Chen X, Jiang Y, Jiao C (2014) Smoke suppression properties of ferrite yellow on flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane based on ammonium polyphosphate. J Hazard Mater 266:114–121. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.12.025

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wen X, Tian N, Gong J, Chen Q, Qi Y, Liu Z, Liu J, Jiang Z, Chen X, Tang T (2013) Effect of nanosized carbon black on thermal stability and flame retardancy of polypropylene/carbon nanotubes nanocomposites. Polym Adv Technol 24(11):971–977. doi:10.1002/pat.3172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Song P, Zhao L, Cao Z, Fang Z (2011) Polypropylene nanocomposites based on C60-decorated carbon nanotubes: thermal properties, flammability, and mechanical properties. J Mater Chem 21(21):7782. doi:10.1039/c1jm10395d

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Perret B, Schartel B, Stöß K, Ciesielski M, Diederichs J, Döring M, Krämer J, Altstädt V (2011) Novel DOPO-based flame retardants in high-performance carbon fibre epoxy composites for aviation. Eur Polymer J 47(5):1081–1089. doi:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2011.02.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under Grant Nos. 51576212 and 51534008, the Open Research Fund of Key Laboratory of Building Fire Protection Engineering and Technology of MPS (Grant No. KFKT2014ZD02), and the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities. The authors appreciate the supports deeply.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Disaster Prevention Science & Safety Technology, Railway Campus, Central South University, Changsha, 410075, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-long Zhao & Chang-kun Chen

  2. College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xi-lei Chen

Authors
  1. Xiao-long Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chang-kun Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xi-lei Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chang-kun Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhao, Xl., Chen, Ck. & Chen, Xl. Effects of carbon fibers on the flammability and smoke emission characteristics of halogen-free thermoplastic polyurethane/ammonium polyphosphate. J Mater Sci 51, 3762–3771 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9694-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9694-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation