Synergistic effect of combined dimethyl methylphosphonate with aluminum hydroxide or ammonium polyphosphate retardant systems on the flame retardancy and thermal properties of unsaturated polyester resin

A series of flame-retardant unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) were prepared by the addition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) with various amounts of aluminum hydroxide (ATH) or ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as the flame retardants. The combustion resistance effects of ATH/DMMP and APP/DMMP systems were evaluated by limiting oxygen index test and vertical burning test (UL-94). The thermal properties of UPR were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The structure of char was observed by scanning electron microscopy. DMMP incorporated with ATH or APP improved the flame retardancy and thermal properties of UPR. However, the fire-retardant mechanism of these two systems were different: The ATH/DMMP system provided synergistic effect in charring property of the UPR, produced great amount of residual char, and thus revealed the excellent flame retardancy. The APP/DMMP system further improved the flame retardancy of the UPR due to the change in the residual char structure rather than the increase in the production of char.