A novel microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP) with shell of crosslinked β‐cyclodextrin (HDI‐CD) was prepared. The HDI‐CD shell had a fibrous structure and covered with good completeness on the APP core, and a solid chemical bonding was found between the APP core and HDI‐CD shell. The microcapsules were more hydrophobic than the pristine APP. When compounded within polypropylene (PP), the MAPP exhibited good compatibility and dispersibility. The combustion testing results showed that the novel all‐in‐one intumescent flame retardant had efficient flame retardancy for PP materials.

Amino‐functionalized nanosilica (SiO2‐NH2) was prepared through cocondensation method using aminopropyltriethoxysilane as comonomer to hydrolyze and cocondense with tetraethylorthosilicate. The synergistic effect of combination of ammonium polyphosphate and pentaerythritol with SiO2‐NH2 on the thermal and flame‐retardant properties of intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) polypropylene (PP) has been investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectra, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and UL 94 tests. When 1.0 wt.% SiO2‐NH2 was added, the LOI value of the PP/IFR composite with 25 wt.% of IFR increased from 26.6% to 31.7%, while the UL 94 rating raised from not classified to V‐0. The TGA data demonstrated that the SiO2‐NH2 nanoparticles increased the charred residue of the PP/IFR composites. The morphological structures and the orderliness of the charred residue proved that SiO2‐NH2 promoted the formation of compact intumescent charred layer, which effectively protected the underlying polymer from burning. The XRD patterns of the charred residue indicated that nanosilica reacted with APP to form SiP2O7 crystal structure during combustion, which was beneficial to the formation of compact charred layers. In comparison with the inorganic SiO2‐cal nanoparticles, the amino‐functionalized nanosilica revealed much more efficient synergistic flame‐retardant effect due to the difference of surface properties.

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