Flame‐Retardant Thermoplastic Polyurethane‐Based Nanocomposites: Research Status, Prospects and Challenges
Xishun Qiu, Yifan Wang, Haiyan Wu, Lailong Ding, Jiayu Lin, Wei Gao, Yonglei Chi, Mingliang Ma, Weibo Huang
Abstract
ABSTRACT Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has a wide range of applications in the fields of coatings, cables, garments, automobiles, medicine, and health. However, the flammability of TPU poses a serious threat to life and limits its further development. Significant advancements have been made in the use of nano‐flame retardants in TPU in recent years. Traditional flame retardants usually require high additive amounts and have adverse effects on material properties. In contrast, nano‐flame retardants can significantly improve the fire safety properties of TPU at low additive amounts due to their unique size and surface effects. To the best of our knowledge, there is no comprehensive review of nano‐flame retardants for TPU. This paper provides an overview of the structural characteristics and combustion decomposition of TPU. In addition, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the use of nano‐flame retardants for TPU, including pure nano‐flame retardants, nano‐flame retardants as synergists, modified nanocomposites, and multilayer structures. This study describes the preparation method and flame retardant efficiency of TPU‐based nanocomposites. The focus is on elucidating their structural design and flame retardant mechanism. More importantly, we highlight the current challenges of flame retardant TPU‐based nanocomposites and propose future research directions. This work aims to help researchers quickly understand the latest advances in the field and to inspire the design of novel flame retardants.