In today's rapidly changing field of materials science, polyether thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) has become an indispensable key material in many industries due to its unique molecular structure and excellent performance. However, with the continuous expansion of its application areas, especially in areas with high safety requirements such as electronic devices and cables, the flame retardant properties of polyether TPU materials have become the focus of attention. This article will discuss the necessity of flame retardant polyether TPU materials and their flame retardant modification technology from a professional perspective.

Performance and application of polyether TPU materials

Polyether TPU materials have a unique molecular structure - ether bonds separate adjacent methylene groups, thereby reducing their cohesive energy density and glass transition temperature, giving them excellent low-temperature weather resistance, hydrolysis resistance and electrical insulation. These outstanding properties have made polyether TPU materials widely used in the fields of automobiles, toys, shoes, pipes, electronic appliances, etc.

However, just like the two sides of a coin, polyether TPU materials have many advantages but also face some challenges, one of which is its insufficient flame retardant performance.

Necessity of flame retardancy of polyether TPU materials

In the fields of electronic devices and cables, the flame retardant properties of materials are directly related to the safety of product use. Conventional polyether TPU materials have a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of only about 18%, which is much lower than the oxygen content in the air and is a flammable material. Once burned, polyether TPU materials will release a large amount of harmful gases and have severe molten droplets, which will not only pose a threat to personal safety, but also pollute the environment.

Therefore, in order to meet the market demand for highly flame-retardant TPU materials, polyether TPU materials must be flame-retardantly modified.

Flame retardant modification technology of polyether TPU materials

Flame retardant modification is a technology that improves the flame retardant properties of polyether TPU materials by adding flame retardants, changing the molecular structure or introducing flame retardant elements. At present, common flame retardant modification methods include physical methods and chemical methods.

The physical method mainly achieves flame retardant modification by adding flame retardants. Flame retardants can be divided into two categories: organic flame retardants and inorganic flame retardants. Organic flame retardants mainly achieve flame retardant effects by producing a carbonized layer or inhibiting flame propagation during combustion; inorganic flame retardants mainly achieve flame retardancy by decomposing at high temperatures to produce non-flammable gases to dilute the concentration of combustible gases.

The chemical principle is to introduce flame retardant elements or structures during the synthesis of polyether TPU materials to make them flame retardant. This method can fundamentally improve the flame retardant properties of the material, but it requires complex synthesis processes and expensive costs.

In practical applications, the appropriate flame retardant modification method can be selected according to specific needs and cost considerations. It is also necessary to pay attention to new problems and side effects that may be introduced during the flame retardant modification process, such as decreased mechanical properties and poor processing performance.

Conclusion

As an elastomeric material with excellent performance, polyether TPU material is widely used in various fields. However, its insufficient flame retardant performance limits its application in some fields. Therefore, it is of great significance to improve the flame retardant properties of polyether TPU materials through flame retardant modification technology. In the future, with the continuous advancement of science and technology and the improvement of people's requirements for safety and environmental protection, flame retardant modification technology will become one of the important directions of polyether TPU material research and development.