Abstract

Many common petroleum-based polymeric materials used in our daily life are highly flammable and thus essential for introduction of fire-retardant properties for a greater safety purpose. Recently, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have received great attention in the application of fire-retardant materials by incorporating proper POSS compounds either physically or chemically into common polymer systems to offer hybrid composites with improved fire-retardant properties. This chapter will summarize the latest development on the POSS-based fire-retardant polymer composite materials mainly in terms of the class of polymers including epoxy resins, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyolefins, polystyrene, polyurethanes, vinyl esters, acrylics, and cotton fabrics. Not only will the effects of POSS on the fire-retardant properties, for example, the peak heat release rate, the total heat release, the time of ignition, and the fire ratings, obtained from key flammability tests such as cone calorimetry and UL94 testing be reviewed, but the structural diversity of POSS, process of making composites as well as mechanism for improvement in fire-retardant properties will also be holistically discussed. Finally, perspectives on potentials, challenges, and further development of POSS as fire-retardant additives are commented.

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