Improvement of Flame-Retardant Performance of Polyurethane Foam Coated with Water Glass

In this study, water glass was applied as a coating material to a rigid polyurethane foam to improve the flame-retardant properties of the foam. The heat release rate of the cone calorimeter of the urethane foam, in which the inorganic water-glass coating layer was applied, decreased rapidly. The water glass coated on the polyurethane surface formed a glassy foam by foaming with water, which did not escape during the vitrification reaction when the foam or glass was heated. The glassy foam formed on the polyurethane foam became a fire-resistant insulation layer that inhibited the combustion of the polyurethane foam for more than 10 min. Water glass was found to improve the flame-retardant properties of the rigid polyurethane foam.