Recent developments and applications of hyperbranched polymers as flame retardants

Abstract

Fire accidents significantly affect people's lives and property, and the flame retardant properties of polymers have attracted widespread attention. With the increasing demand for safety and environmentally protection, developing efficient, halogen-free, low-smoke, and low-toxicity flame retardant materials has become an important research topic. Hyperbranched polymers and dendritic macromolecules have similar structures and properties, but hyperbranched polymers can be synthesized by the one-step polymerization reaction with a simple method and low cost. Hyperbranched polymer molecules have a unique three-dimensional structure with abundant end groups. The developments and applications of hyperbranched polymers as flame retardants in epoxy resins, polypropylene, polyurethane, polylactic acid, cellulose, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer were discussed. The analysis of the flame retardant properties of the materials was focused and the physical and mechanical properties of the materials were briefly discussed. Furthermore, hyperbranched polymers have been proved to have a promising future in the fields of flame retardants.