Abstract
Although rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) have great thermal insulating properties, they have limited usage because pristine PU foams are highly flammable. Therefore, in order to have widespread applications, much attention has been invested in the discovery and study of a vast number of flame retardants. Though there have been countless reports of novel flame retardants, it has been a challenge to select the most appropriate flame retardant for the RPUF of interest. While several comparison studies have been documented in the literature, the focus is on the microstructure, mechanical, and thermal properties. Herein, a relatively comprehensive flame retardant selection process is introduced, which includes more physical and chemical properties characterisations, enabling one to make informed decisions when selecting flame retardants.
Keywords
Polyurethane foam, Flame retardant, Microstructure, Mechanical, Thermal properties