The objective of this study was to develop an environmentally friendly fire‐retardant polypropylene (PP) with significantly improved fire‐retardancy performance with a novel flame‐retardant (FR) system. The system was composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), melamine (MEL), and novel phosphorus‐based FRs. Because of the synergistic FR effects among the three FRs, the FR PP composites achieved a V‐0 classification, and the limiting oxygen index reached as high as 36.5%. In the cone calorimeter test, both the peak heat‐release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of the FR PP composites were remarkably reduced by the incorporation of the novel FR system. The FR mechanism of the MEL–APP–FR–PP composites was investigated through thermogravimetric analysis and char residue characterization, and the results reveal that the addition of MEL–APP–FRs promoted the formation of stable intumescent char layers. This led to the reduction of pHRR and THR and resulted in the improvement of the fire retardancy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45962.

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Halogen-containing flame retardants are not preferred for environmental reasons. Herein, a halogen-free intumescent flame-retardant ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA/IFR) system containing organic montmorillonite (OMMT) and graphene nanosheets (GNSs) is fabricated with well dispersion structure, enhanced thermal-oxidative resistance at high temperature. Interestingly, the amount of residual chars from thermogravimetric analysis is increased to 12.7 wt % at 700 8C, the EVA/IFR composite containing both OMMT and GNSs exhibits the best flame retardancy with the lowest peak heat release rate value of 529.58 kW m 22 , and the highest limited oxygen index value of 24.8%. The excellent flame retardancy is attributed to the formation of complete and compact protective char layer. Furthermore, the decreases of the mechanical properties caused by the addition of IFR are relieved and a high volume resistivity is maintained when combining OMMT and GNSs in the EVA/IFR system together. V C 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46361.

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