Flame Retardant Waterborne Polyurethanes: Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of Different Properties

Abstract

A series of flame retardant waterborne polyurethanes (WBPUs) with varying NCO:OH mole ratio, i.e., isocyanate:hydroxyl groups, was synthesized using phosphorus-based polyester polyol and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI). The phosphorus moiety was kept in the polymeric chain, which improves flame retardancy of the WBPU films. The prepolymer mixing process was adopted for the synthesis route of WBPU systems. The presence of structural-functional groups was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The thermal stability and percentage char yield were observed by TGA analysis. As a consequence of the existence of phosphorous moiety, these WBPUs also exhibit flame retardancy, which was examined by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 test. All the samples show an increment in thermal stability with an increase in NCO:OH ratio. Maximum flame retardancy was obtained in FWP5 and FWP6 systems with LOI value of 32%.