Polymers as flame retardant additives for polyamides

The main flame retardants used for polyamides are either halogenated organic compounds, red phosphorus or organic phosphinates, often in combination with melamine derivatives. Halogenated flame retardants are considered to be of toxicological concern with regard to manufacture, use, disposal and also in the event of fire, and are therefore being increasingly disregarded. Moreover, they are produced using fossil raw materials. The latter also applies to the harmless variants of these flame retardants, which contain phosphorus. Both of these substance classes primarily involve low-molecular compounds that can migrate out of plastic under certain conditions. Red phosphorus can have a corrosive effect on its environment.

Working on two research projects, Fraunhofer LBF scientists have developed halogen-free, polymeric flame retardants that do not exhibit these disadvantages. The polymers with phosphorus-containing side groups are based on both renewable and fossil raw materials. By varying the molar mass and using different comonomers or substituents, the melting viscosity, compatibility and mode of action can be individually adapted to the base polymer and the intended application. The macromolecular structure also prevents migration. A particular challenge here was to develop flame retardant additives that could withstand the high processing temperatures of PA, which can be as high as 300 °C.

Good for spinning: flame retardant for polyamide fibers

Flame-retardant polyamide (PA) textiles can be used for protective clothing, industrial and home textiles, and also as reinforcements for plastics in lightweight applications. Flame retardancy is currently achieved through post-treatment of textile surfaces, meaning an additional step in the process. There is also a risk that the subsequently applied flame retardant may be unintentionally washed off during washing processes. Consequently, PA fibers that are intrinsically flame-retardant would have a decisive advantage. The above-mentioned halogen-free flame retardants are not suitable for the production of flame-retardant fibers. These are present in the PA in particulate form and therefore lead to problems when the very thin polymer fibers are spun. Polymeric flame retardants have the advantage that they can be melted, spun and stretched together with the polyamide. It was in this context that polymeric flame retardants based on (meth)acrylates were developed at Fraunhofer LBF using a new synthesis route. The flame retardants are characterized by a high phosphorus content coupled with good temperature resistance at 300 °C, which had previously not been possible. 

Our project partner, the Institute of Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University (ITA), incorporated the flame retardant into PA 6.6, spun it into multifilament yarns and processed them into textile surfaces. The textile properties remained virtually unchanged at a concentration of 10 percent of the flame retardants developed at Fraunhofer LBF (Fig. 3). Fire tests demonstrated a flame-retardant effect (Fig. 2) and reduced dripping during a fire.