Organic/inorganic flame retardants containing phosphorus, nitrogen and silicon: Preparation and their performance on the flame retardancy of epoxy resins as a novel intumescent flame retardant system

Abstract This paper presents the preparation of novel organic/inorganic flame retardants containing phosphorus, nitrogen and silicon (organic/inorganic FRs). The organic/inorganic FRs were highly water resistant, as suggested by the water contact angle and water solubility tests. The organic/inorganic FRs were then incorporated into epoxy resins (EP) at different phosphorus/nitrogen ratios and the flame retardancy of EP/FRs composites was characterized. The results showed that synergistic effects on the flame retardancy of EP composites existed between the DOPO-VTS and TGIC-KH. The char residues for EP/FRs composites were increased, and the highest char residues were obtained in air atmosphere (3.8 wt.%) when the DOPO-VTS/TGIC-KH is 4/1. The MCC results also showed that the THR of epoxy resins were also decreased when the DOPO-VTS/TGIC-KH is 4/1, which was in accordance with the highest LOI and UL-94 results. The SEM, FTIR, XPS and TG-FTIR results of pyrolysis products in both condensed and gases phases indicated that the strategy of organic/inorganic FRs combined condensed phase and gases phase flame retardant strategies such as the phosphorus–nitrogen synergism systems, the silicon reinforced effects in the condensed phase and DOPO flame retardant systems in the gases phase, resulting in significant improvements in the flame retardancy of epoxy resins.