INVESTIGATION OF EFFECTS OF ALUM AND POTASSIUM SESQUICARBONATE ON THE FIRE CHARACTERISTICS OF FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAM

The effectiveness of alum and potassium sesquicarbonate was studied by incorporating various concentrations of the flame retardants into the polyurethane foam sample. The flammability tests were carried out and the results showed
that as the concentration of the flame retardants increased, the flame propagation rate, after glow time, burn length and flame duration decreased for both flame retardants, while ignition time, add-on and char formation increased for both flame retardants. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that both alum and potassium sesquicarbonate functions as flame retardants on the foam samples at low percentage concentration but the polyurethane foam filled with potassium sesquicarbonate required a higher activation energy than alum for the pyrolysis / combustion of the samples. Also the onset of degradation time was more delayed in potassium sesquicarbonate than alum.

BY IWUCHUKWU, IFEYINWA E., DEPARTMENT OF PURE AND INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY, FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA. IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PURE AND INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.