The synthesis of an efficient titanium-based flame retardant with high dispersibility in Polyamide 66

Abstract

The preparation of high-performance flame retardants specialized for melt-spinning polyamide 66 (PA66) fibers remains a big challenge nowadays. This study has synthesized a highly dispersed, phosphorus-containing titanocene complex, namely Cp2Ti(DBA). The synthesized flame retardant possesses high dispersibility and compatibility in PA66. Flammability tests show that Cp2Ti(DBA) exhibits efficient flame retardancy in PA66. With the addition of 15 wt % of Cp2Ti(DBA) in PA66, a LOI value of 29.9% is achieved, and the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) are reduced by 36% and 26%, respectively, as compared to pure PA66. Based on the py-GC MS study and char analysis, Cp2Ti(DBA) shows a dual-phase flame-retardant mechanism. In the gas phase, Cp2Ti(DBA) releases the phosphorus-containing free radicals, which capture the highly reactive free radicals. While in the condensed phase, titanium promotes the phosphaphenanthrene fragments to degrade and retains phosphorus in the form of titanium phosphates, which reinforce the barrier effect and stability of the char layer. This work may provide an efficient flame retardant with promising applications in PA66, especially for the melt-spinning of fibers.