Smithers Rapra Characteristics and Analysis of Non-Flammable Polymers

In recent years there has been an increasing demand for fire-retardant versions of a range of plastics. Such applications are fire retardancy in vehicles, aircraft, manned space vehicles, marine and industrial applications such as electronics and a wide range of applications in the building industry including roofing and interior walls. Also in domestic applications such as furniture, clothes, bedding, upholstery and electrical goods.

Fire retardancy in polymers can be achieved in several ways.

Firstly, there are forms of polymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, which are intrinsically fire retardant.

The second type are rendered fire retardant by the inclusion of a suitable additive in the formulation. These include additives based on bromine, antimony, nitrogen phosphorus and silicon. An essential requirement for fire-retardant polymers used in enclosed spaces is that they do not release any toxic products on combustion. In this respect, antimony containing additives are going out of favour due to the release of toxic antimony volatiles on combustion.

Thirdly, introduction of intumescence into polymers by the introduction of suitable compounds is being increasingly used as a means of imparting fire retardancy in polymers.

There exists a plethora of methods used to assess fire retardancy in polymers. These are discussed and summarised in this book.

The book - Characteristics and Analysis of Non-Flammable Polymers - could be of interest not only to those working in industry but also to design engineers and producers in the polymer fabrication industries.