FLAME RETARDANCE EFFECTS ON FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAM TREATED WITH HALOGENATED PARAFFIN

Abstract

This work studies the effects of flame retardant on flexible polyether foam samples. Flexible polyurethane foam samples were prepared by mixing 5ml, 10ml, 16ml, 24ml and 30ml chlorinated paraffin with foam recipes. Fire characteristics and FTIR analyses of various foam samples produced were compared with that of foam sample without chlorinated paraffin (control). Results showed that flame propagation rate, flame duration and after glow decrease with increase in the volume of chlorinated paraffin while ignition time and char formation were observed to have increased with increase in volume of chlorinated paraffin. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses revealed shifts in intensities of functional groups of various foam samples from the intensity of the functional groups of control indicating that the chlorinated paraffin interacted with the foam recipes.