Flame-retardant effect of modified molecular sieve by ionic liquid in TPU.

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) had a wide application because of the perfect property, while it was still limited by its flammability and flame dripping. In this paper, modified molecular sieve (MMS) by 1-((ethoxycarbonyl)methyl)-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([EOOEMIm][PF6]) was used into TPU as a type of flame agent. The flame-retardant performance of TPU was studied by cone calorimeter (CCT), smoke density test (SDT) and thermogravimetric/infrared spectroscopy (TG-IR), respectively. CCT test indicated that MMS improved flame-retardant performance of TPU effectively by promote the formation of char layer. The peak heat release rate and total heat release declined by 48.4% and 32.5%, respectively, compared to pure TPU when 1.0 mass% MMS was added; SDT test showed that MMS improved the smoke generation performance of TPU without flame; and the TG-IR test proved that MMS improved the thermal stability of TPU even though in nitrogen. So the MMS can apply for flame-retardant TPU well in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]