Fire Retardants for Thermoplastics

Phosphorus-Based Flame Retardants

“…The reasonable suggestion was made by Sherr and co-workers that phosphorus additives may become converted thermally to polyphosphoric acid, which forms a continuous coating over the burning polymer. (83) Some evidence that such a coating does form has been seen in the case of polystyrene,(84) and it is not unreasonable to believe that the coating acts as a barrier to passage of heat, oxygen, or fuel.…”