Thermal and fire retardant properties of polyurea

The thermal and fire retardant properties of polyurea, formed by the polyaddition reaction of a modified diisocyanate with an oligomeric diamine, have been studied using thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry as the principal tools. Approximately forty different conventional fire retardant additives including halogens (chlorine and bromine), phosphorus (nearly all oxidation states), mineral fillers, melamine compounds and intumescent additives were used at constant loading of 15 wt. % for all samples (except mineral fillers, 30 wt. %) and evaluated in polyurea. The thermal properties (onset, maximum degradation temperature and char residue) of filled polyurea samples are compared with the control sample. The fire retarded polyurea samples have been screened on the basis of the percentage reduction of peak heat release rate and smoke evolution.