Effect of Fire Retardants in Improvement of Combustion Restriction and Thermal Decomposition of Polyurethane Foams: A Review

Abstract

Polyurethane foams are extensively used in different applications such as furnitures and sandwich structures due to better mechanical properties, higher acoustic and damping behavior, higher resistance to hydrocarbon, and aging.With respect to flammability of polyurethane materials and safety precaution in living and working environments there is a vital need to study and investigate published works on thermal decomposition, combustion and fire retardancy of polyurethane materials. Recently a new approach in improved applications of flame retardant additives and nano-composite polyurethane has been met. In this review, the thermal decomposition, combustion and fire retardancy of polyurethane foams are discussed and the effects of halogenic materials as flame retardants, inorganic compounds, blowing agents, phosphorus compounds in the form of organic and inorganic reactive additives, expandable graphite and new products based on nanocomposites are introduced and classified.

Keywords

• polyurethane foam
• flame retardant
• thermal decomposition
• combustion
• nanocomposite