Synergistic effects of dual imidazolium polyoxometalates on intumescent flame retardant polypropylene

ABSTRACT The role of dual imidazolium polyoxometalates (POMs) in the flame retardancy of polypropylene/intumescent flame retardant (PP/IFR) composites was studied. The results showed that the structures of dual imidazolium POMs have a great effect on the flame retardancy of PP composites. The dual imidazolium POMs based on an ethyl group (EMIPMA) obtain the best flame retardant efficiency. With 15.5 wt % IFR and 0.5 wt % EMIPMA, the PP composites reach a limiting oxygen index of 25.7 and the UL‐94 V‐0 standard. However, the dual imidazolium POMs containing a butyl (BMIPMA) or hexyl (HMIPMA) group cannot achieve the UL‐94 V‐0 standard at the same formulation. Dual imidazolium POMs not only promote the formation of good char, but also induce the formation of intumescent char with a hierarchical and microporous structure that helps to prevent gas and heat from transferring from the flame to the resin. Therefore, the flame retardancy of PP/IFR composites is improved. However, excessive combustible components produced by BMIPMA or HMIPMA deteriorate the flame retardancy of PP/IFR composites. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 45491.