Improving thermal and flame retardant properties of sorbitol‐based bioepoxy systems by phosphorus‐based flame retardants.

Summary: Flame‐retarded sorbitol‐based bioepoxy resins cured with cycloaliphatic amine hardener and containing different commercially available additive‐type flame retardants (FRs) have been prepared. Three different oxidation states of phosphorus, aluminium diethyl phosphinate (AlPi) (+1), phosphonate polyol (+3), ethyl ethylene glycol phosphate and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) (+5), have been studied. The effect of using melamine cyanurate with APP and AlPi has been assessed. The self‐extinguishing V‐0 rating according to UL‐94 flammability standard tests and very good limiting oxygen index for combustion are displayed for most flame‐retarded samples at 3 wt% phosphorus content. The flame retardancy effect for the additives was confirmed using cone calorimetry. The samples containing MC with APP at 3%P content showed a dramatic reduction of the total heat release by 60% and reduction of the peak of heat release rate by 70% compared to the reference epoxy matrix. The addition of these FRs together did not decrease the glass transition temperature significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]