Synergistic flame retardancy of tris(1-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-4-yl)phosphite and tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine/Sb2O3 in high-impact polystyrene

Synergistic flame retardancy of tris(1-methoxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidin-4-yl) phosphite (NORPM) and tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBPC)/Sb2O3 in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) was studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI) determination, UL-94 test, and cone calorimetry test (CCT). NORPM has an exceptional synergistic effect in HIPS. When the dosage of TTBPC, Sb2O3, and NORPM was 12.8, 3.2, and 0.5 wt% respectively, flame retardant effectivity and synergistic effectivity were 0.424 and 1.15 respectively. Compared with the Flame retardant (FR)-HIPS containing 16.0 wt% of TTBPC/Sb2O3, the LOI of FR-HIPS increases from 23.8% to 25.4%, the flame-retardant rating of FR-HIPS can be improved from UL 94 V-2 to V-0, and the peak heat release rate and total heat release are significantly reduced by combining NORPM in 0.5 wt% concentration. NORPM induces the synergistic effect mainly through the following mechanisms: the active radicals produced by the pyrolysis of NORPM promote the release of bromine radicals from TTBPC and the formation of HBr, which improves the flame retardancy of TTBPC; the above active radicals, together with HBr, quench active free radicals, such as the hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) and decompose the free radical source, which interrupts the chain reaction during combustion and results in a more efficient flame retardant effect in gaseous phase.