Fabrication of self-setting Al(OH)3 foams for potential fire-retarding applications

Fire-retarding materials are essential in order to fulfill the various requirements in our daily life. Here we present the macro-porous self-setting aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) foams which were fabricated by a direct-foaming technique. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as a surfactant. The microstructure of the foam was set immediately by the addition of ordinary Portland cement. The ATH foams obtained by this technique have cell size in the range of 50 to 180 mu m and porosity in the range of 88 to 92%. Finally, the fire retarding capability of self-setting ATM foam was characterized by TGA/DSC. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved