The effects of N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol on the flame retardancy and physical–mechanical properties of rigid polyurethane foams

Abstract

Flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foams incorporating N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol have been prepared. After adding N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol, the density and compressive strength of the polyurethane foams were seen to decrease. The flame retardancy of the polyurethane foams has been characterized by limiting oxygen index, upper limit–94, and cone calorimeter tests. The polyurethane foam with 2.27 wt% N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol gave a highest limiting oxygen index of 33.4%, and the peak heat release rate of polyurethane foam reduced to 19.5 kW/m2 from 47.6 kW/m2 of PU-0 without N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol. Upper limit–94 revealed N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol did not change the burning rating, and all polyurethane foams had passed V-0 rating. The thermal stability of polyurethane foams has been investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer. N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol significantly increased the initial decomposition temperature of polyurethane foams and their residues. In addition, the morphology of residual char from the flame-retarded polyurethane foams after cone calorimeter tests has also been characterized by digital photographs. The results indicated that N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol significantly enhanced the strength and compatibility of the char layer formed by the polyurethane foams. These results indicate that N,N-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid ester glycol can improve both the quality and quantity of the char, which has a significant effect on the flame-retardant properties of the foam.