Frontier Technology | Collaborative Flame Retardant System Enhances Epoxy Polyamide (PA) Coating Performance

The use of modified expandable flame retardant in conjunction with scandium oxide - yttrium oxide stabilized zirconia can significantly enhance the flame retardant and insulating properties of epoxy polyamide coatings.

(Image source:Pixabay）

A research team has developed an innovative epoxy-polyamide coating flame retardant system that combines sodium polyacrylate-modified ammonium polyphosphate (SAPP) with scandium and yttrium co-stabilized zirconia (ScYSZ), aiming to enhance fire safety and thermal insulation performance.

When the coating contains 19.4 wt% SAPP and 3.2 wt% ScYSZ, its limiting oxygen index (LOI) reaches 31.3% and meets the UL-94 V-0 flame retardant standard. Compared to pure epoxy resin, the total heat release (THR) of this coating is reduced by 61.3%, and the total smoke production (TSP) is reduced by 67.8%.

Synergistic effects form a high-quality protective carbon layer.

The analysis results show that the synergy between SAPP and ScYSZ promotes the formation of a high-quality protective carbon layer: during combustion, cross-linked structures and P-O-C aromatic chemical bonds are generated, thereby constructing an effective thermal and oxygen barrier. These research findings confirm that the hybrid flame retardant system has great potential in enhancing the thermal insulation and smoke suppression properties of coatings.