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An Extremely Efficient Silylated Benzensulfonate Flame Retardant for Polycarbonate
Xiaodong Lu1,2, Qiang Yao1,2,3, Weihong Cao1
1Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 19, 2020
Summary
A novel flame retardant, potassium trimethylsilylbenzenesulfonate (KTSS), offers superior performance for polycarbonate (PC) plastics. This highly efficient additive provides excellent flame retardancy while maintaining the material
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Materials Chemistry
- Flame Retardant Technology
Background:
- Polycarbonate (PC) is a widely used engineering thermoplastic.
- Developing effective flame retardants for PC is crucial for safety applications.
- Existing flame retardants often face challenges with efficiency and water solubility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a highly efficient and low water-solubility flame retardant for bisphenol-A based polycarbonate.
- To investigate the flame retardant mechanism of the novel compound.
- To evaluate the impact of the flame retardant on the physical properties of polycarbonate.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and characterization of potassium trimethylsilylbenzenesulfonate (KTSS).
- Incorporation of KTSS into polycarbonate (PC) matrix at low loading concentrations.
- Evaluation of flame retardancy using UL-94 V0 rating and Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) tests.
- Analysis of char formation and surface migration mechanisms.
Main Results:
- KTSS demonstrated significantly higher flame retardancy compared to the commercial potassium benzenesulfonylbenzenesulfonate (KSS).
- A loading of only 0.02% KTSS achieved a UL-94 V0 rating and an LOI of 34.4 (an 8.5 unit increase).
- KTSS exhibits 7 times lower water solubility and 5 times greater flame retardant effectiveness than KSS.
- The flame retardant mechanism involves surface migration, alkaline species release, and silicon-stabilized char formation.
- PC/KTSS composites retained the excellent physical properties of the base polycarbonate.
Conclusions:
- Potassium trimethylsilylbenzenesulfonate (KTSS) is an exceptionally efficient flame retardant for polycarbonate.
- KTSS offers a promising solution for enhancing the fire safety of PC without compromising its mechanical integrity.
- The unique molecular structure of KTSS facilitates its high performance and low water solubility.
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