New foam has higher fire resistance

2010-03-08
Newsfeed

US scientists have developed a new polyurethane compound with naturally high resistance to fire, which eliminates the need for toxic flame-resistant additives.

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US scientists have developed a new polyurethane compound with naturally high resistance to fire, which eliminates the need for toxic flame-resistant additives.

Polyurethane is a widely used polymers - best known as flexible foam in furnishing, upholstery and mattresses - which is easily combustible and needs special fire-retardant additives.

But these added chemicals are often harmful to the environment, and may also have an adverse effect on the polymer's physical properties.

Says lead researcher Todd Emrick, from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst: "Some fire-retardant additives, especially halogenated examples, have been shown to be toxic and bio-accumulative."

His team has now succeeded in creating polymers based on deoxybenzoin. The new compounds were found to have low heat release rates and high char formation, the latter reduces heat conduction by insulating the polymer-air interface.

Mr Emrick said these were two key indicators of materials having low flammability.

The team now hopes to devise techniques to synthesise the polyurethanes on an industrial scale.

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