Flame-responsive aryl ether nitrile structure towards multiple fire hazards suppression of thermoplastic polyester

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Fire Safety Engineering

Background:

• Thermoplastic polymers like poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) present significant fire hazards including heat, smoke, and dripping.
• Conventional flame retardants (halogen/phosphorus-based) can exacerbate smoke and toxicity, while physical blending leads to migration and environmental concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for inhibiting multiple fire hazards in PET by chemical incorporation.
• To address the limitations of traditional flame retardant methods, focusing on environmental safety and hazard reduction.

Main Methods:

• Chemical incorporation of aryl ether nitrile structures into the poly(ethylene terephthalate) matrix.
• Utilizing flame-responsive cyclotrimerization and aliphatic fragment capture mechanisms for hazard suppression.

Main Results:

• Significantly suppressed flammability risks and multi-hazards (heat, smoke, toxicity, dripping).
• Increased limiting oxygen index from 21.0 to 31.0.
• Reduced peak heat release (49.0%), total smoke release (31.1%), and carbon monoxide production (52.6%), with eliminated dripping and a UL-94 V-0 rating.

Conclusions:

• The novel chemical incorporation strategy effectively suppresses multiple fire hazards in PET.
• This approach offers a promising alternative for enhancing the fire safety of thermoplastic polymers without environmental drawbacks.