Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials Volume 2

Flammability has been recognized as an increasingly important social and scientific problem. Fire statistics in the United States (Report of the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, "America Burning," 1973) emphasized the vast devastation to life and property--12,OOO lives lost annually due to fire, and these deaths are usually caused by inhaling smoke or toxic gases; 300,000 fire injuries; 11.4 billion dollars in fire cost at which 2.7 billion dollars is related to property loss; a billion dollars to burn injury treatment; and 3.3 billion dollars in productivity loss. It is obvious that much human and economic misery can be attributed to fire situations. In relation to this, polymer flammability has been recognized as an in­ creasingly important social and scientific problem. The development of flame-retardant polymeric materials is a current example where the initia­ tive for major scientific and technological developments is motivated by sociological pressure and legislation. This is part of the important trend toward a safer environment and sets a pattern for future example. Flame retardancy deals with our basic everyday life situations-housing, work areas, transportation, clothing and so forth-the "macroenvironment" capsule within which "homosapiens" live. As a result, flame-retardant polymers are now emerging as a specific class of materials leading to new and diversified scientific and technological ventures.

1 Structure, Pyrolysis, and Flammability of Cellulose.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Fine Structure of Cellulose.- 3. The Major Products of Cellulose Pyrolysis: Levoglucosan and Char.- 4. Vacuum Pyrolysis.- 5. Air Pyrolysis.- 6. Flame Retardancy.- 7. References.- 2 Synergism and Flame Retardancy.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Synergism.- 3. Synergistic Reactions in Fire Retardation.- 4. Synergism and Future Studies on Fire Retardation.- 5. References.- 3 Ignition of Polymers.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Autoignition Studies.- 3. Autoignition of Multicomponent Systems.- 4. The State of the Art.- 5. References.- 4 Phosphorus-Based Flame Retardants.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Inorganic Phosphorus Compounds.- 3. Organic Phosphorus Flame Retardants—Additive Types.- 4. Organic Phosphorus Compounds—Reactive Types.- 5. Mode of Action of Phosphorus Flame Retardants.- 6. Trends and Future Developments.- 7. References.- 5 Flammability of Cotton-Polyester Blend Fabrics.- 1. Theory of Flame-Retardant Action.- 2. Flame-Retardant Treatments for Polyester-Cotton Blends.- 3. References.- 6 Factors Affecting the Combustion of Polystyrene and Styrene.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Physical and Thermal Properties of Polystyrene and Styrene.- 3. The Pyrolysis and Combustion of Polystyrene and Styrene.- 4. The Mechanisms of Flame Retardation.- 5. The Effects of Halogen Flame Retardants on the Combustion of Polystyrene and Styrene.- 6. The Role of Synergists in the Combustion of Styrenic Materials Inhibited by Halogen Compounds.- 7. The Use of Phosphorus Compounds as Flame Retardants for Polystyrene.- 8. Test Methods and Their Usefulness to Combustion Studies.- 9. Conclusions.- 10. References.- 7 Phenolic Fibers.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Preparation of Phenolic Fibers.- 3. Properties of Phenolic Fibers.- 4. Thermal andChemical Resistance.- 5. Uses.- 6. References.- 8 Flame-Resistant Wool and Wool Blends.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Wool.- 3. Research Strategies for Flame-Resistant Wool.- 4. Flammability Test Methods.- 5. Inorganic Compounds.- 6. Organic Compounds.- 7. Mechanisms of Flame Retardation.- 8. Safety of Flame-Resistant Fabrics.- 9. References.- 9 Smoke and Tenability: A Perspective on the Materials Approach to the Fire Problem.- 1. Introduction: Combustion versus Fire.- 2. Fire: Ignition and Materials.- 3. Smoke: A Hazard Analysis.- 4. Smoke: The Measurement Problem.- 5. Correlation: Studies of Small- and Large-Scale Smoke Tests.- 6. Smoke Hazard Control: The Fire Detector Aspect.- 7. Smoke Hazard: The Materials Perspective.- 8. Smoke Hazard Assessment: Summary.- 9. References.