Influence of Antimony Oxide on Epoxy Based Intumescent Flame Retardation Coating System

Polymers (Basel). 2020 Nov 17;12(11):2721. doi: 10.3390/polym12112721.

Abstract

Ethylenediamine modified Ammonium polyphosphate (EDA-MAPP), and Charring-Foaming Agents (CFA) was prepared via a simple chemical approach and further utilizes for the preparation of Epoxy resin based intumescent flame retardation coatings. The ratio belongs to MAPP and CFA was fixed at 2:1 ratio. Comparative thermo gravimetric analysis TGA study of Modified Ammonium polyphosphate (MAPP) and Ammonium polyphosphate (APP) investigated. Sb2O3 was introduced into flame retardation coating formulation at various amounts to evaluate the synergistic action of Sb2O3 along with flame retardant coating system. The synergistic action of Sb2O3 on flame retardation coating formulation was studied by vertical burning test (UL-94V), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Limited Oxygen Index (LOI), and Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy (FTIR). The UL-94V results indicated that adding Sb2O3 effectively increased flame retardancy and meets V-0 ratings at each concentration. The TGA results revealed that the amalgamation of Sb2O3 at each concentration effectively increased the thermal stability of the flame retardant coating system. Cone-calorimeter study results that Sb2O3 successfully minimized the combustion parameters like, Peak Heat Release Rate (PHRR), and Total Heat Release (THR). The FTIR result shows that Sb2O3 can react with MAPP and generates the dense-charred layer which prevents the transfer of heat and oxygen.

Keywords: Epoxy coatings; antimony oxide; modified ammonium polyphosphate; synergist.