Physical and chemical effects of diethyl N,N′-diethanolaminomethylphosphate on flame retardancy of rigid polyurethane foam

Diethyl N,N-diethanolaminomethylphosphate could react with isocyanate because it contained hydroxy group. This was confirmed by FTIR spectrum. It did not produce any effect on the foam structure of rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). SEM, IR spectrum, and thermal analysis were used for investigation of the physical and chemical changes during the combustion of flame-retardant RPUF. It was shown that the flame retardancy changed the thermal decomposition behavior of RPUF, widened the decomposition temperature region of RPUF, reduced the amounts of decomposition products at high temperatures, and increased the decomposition residuals arisen from charring of flame-retardant RPUF. Those changes improved the flame retardancy of RPUF. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.