Flame-retardancy and Smoke-suppression Studies on Ferrocene Derivatives in PVC

Abstract

A range of substituted ferrocenes has been synthesized and studied for flame retardancy and smoke suppression on incorporation into plasticized PVC at 0.1–5.0 phr. Smoke suppression by up to 50 and enhancement of the limiting oxygen index by up to 4 units were observed. The differences in performance could not be correlated with char formation, thermal analysis or chemical structure of the additive. A negative correlation was found between smoke suppression and flame retardancy. The most effective smoke suppressant additive appears to accelerate the rate of dehydrochlorination of PVC while the most effective flame retardant appears to have little effect on the dehydrochlorination process.