New insight into the preparation of flame-retardant thermoplastic polyether ester utilizing β-cyclodextrin as a charring agent

The past decade has witnessed remarkable progress of the development and amelioration of thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer (TPEE), showing its promising wide-range utility. Herein we unraveled an unprecedented research to utilize β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with perfect charring ability in TPEE in substitution of toxic halogen flame retardants. The TPEE/phosphorous–nitrogen flame retardants (P-N FR) (aluminum diethylphosphinate and melamine polyphosphate)/β-CD system was created and the flame retardance effects were determined using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and the vertical burning test (UL94), while the charring effects of β-CD were measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Besides, the mechanical properties and the morphology were tested by the universal testing machine and SEM. Results indicate that with 10 wt% of β-CD added to the TPEE/25 wt% P-N FR systems, the UL94 can reach to V-0 grade and the tensile strength of th...