The effect of a novel phosphorus-nitrogen reactive flame retardant curing agent on the performance of epoxy resin

Abstract

A phosphorus-nitrogen reactive flame retardant curing agent poly-(isophorondiamine spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphonate) (PIPSPB) was synthesized. The chemical structure of the obtained compound was identified by FTIR, 1HNMR, and mass spectroscopies. Different proportions of DDS and PIPSPB were compounded as the curing agents to prepare a series of flame retardant epoxy resins with different phosphorus contents. The curing behavior of E-44/PIPSPB + DDS system was studied by DSC. A series of tests were conducted to characterize E-44/PIPSPB + DDS thermosetting system’s performance. The result demonstrates that the residual carbon content of EP/PIPSPB + DDS system is obviously higher than that of EP/DDS system after 500 °C with the increase of phosphorus content in the system, and the heat release rate of the system during combustion is significantly reduced. The generated phosphorus-containing carbon layer is obviously foamed, which shows that the flame retardancy of the system is the result of the combined action of condensed phase and gas phase. When the phosphorus content is 1.77wt%, EP-3 successfully passed UL94 V-0 flammability rating, the LOI value was as high as 29%, the impact strength and tensile strength of it were 6.08KJ/m2 and 49.10MPa respectively, the adhesive strength could reach 13.89 MPa, the system presents a good overall performance.