Fire Retardancy of Polymers New Strategies and Mechanisms [Hardcover]

Globally, fire retardants are needed to satisfy a multibillion dollar market and fire retardancy of polymeric materials is an important component of fire safety. This book covers the latest developments in new fire retardant systems including nanoparticulate fillers, sometimes combined with conventional fire retardants; intumescent formulations and their recent applications in bulk polymers, fibres and textiles; test-methods for material flammability; material-specific aspects of combustion, smoke and toxicity. This book will update fire retardant materials' developers with the latest in research and design. It will also provide information for groups from environmentalists looking for alternatives to brominated flame retardants to engineers needing to use fire safe materials in their projects.Globally, fire retardants are needed to satisfy a multibillion dollar market. Fire retardancy of polymeric materials is an important component of fire safety. Fire retardants either reduce the likelihood of ignition and/or reduce the rate of flame spread and hence, escalation of fire. The need to comply with safety legislations forces industry to use fire retardants in materials in order to save lives. With growing consumer demands and new legislations, the development of new systems is an on-going process, which also involves understanding their mechanisms of action. This book covers the latest developments in fire retardant strategies including: new fire retardant systems (including nanoparticulate fillers, sometimes combined with conventional fire retardants) intumescent formulations and their recent applications in bulk polymers, fibres and textiles test-methods for material flammability material-specific aspects of combustion, smoke and toxicity. Fire retardant strategies covered, include the use of synergistic combinations of alumina with organoclay, organophosphorus compunds, silica and organosilicones, clay-phosphate combinations and a novel tecnhique for investigalƒ0