A review of candidate fire retardants for polyisoprene

Potential approaches for fire retarding IR are reviewed, identifying two main approaches; halogenated additives, or high loadings of aluminium hydroxide (ATH), neither of which are satisfactory. Other potential approaches are identified, including the use of phosphorus and nitrogen based additives as intumescent char formers, and with zeolites as char catalysts. Alternative inorganic fire retardants to ATH are identified for use, and zinc hydroxystannate and zinc borate are considered as synergists with ATH. Expandable graphite (EG) is identified for use in other elastomers and has potential for polyisoprene. Nano-scale fire retardants such as montmorillonite clay and multi-walled carbon nanotubes are reported typically as a secondary additive to hydrated fillers, but have yet to make a successful transition to industrial processing.