Synthesis of a Novel Flame Retardant and Study on Its Flame Retardancy

A novel intumescent flame retardant (MAPP-MUF-GO) was prepared by means of the in-situ condensation polymerization of urea and formaldehyde in the presence of graphite oxide (GO), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and modified ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP). The synthesis mechanism and chemical construction of the obtained flame retardant were conjectured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the thermal stability of the flame retardant MAPP-MUF-GO was investigated by Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Micro combustion calorimeter (MCC) measurement. The expandable polystyrene (EPS) slab was coated using the novel flame retardant to prepare flame retardant slab. The flame retardancy of the flame retardant slab was studied by means of limiting oxygen index (LOI) and horizontal burning test (UL-94). The LOI of the slabs coated with 25 (wt%) MAPP-MUF-GO reached up to 32.3% and the slabs passed the standard of HF1 according to UL-94. The thermal conductivity index of the flame retardant slab met the government standard.