Thermal stability and fire properties of conventional flexible polyurethane foam formulations

Polyurethane foams are widely used in many industrial applications, including automotive, upholstered furniture and mattresses, insulating panels for building. Depending on the desired application, polyurethane foams can be produced using many different chemicals and formulations. The physical properties of flexible polyurethane foams depend on their composition. They will be closely related to the characteristics of the polyol used, to the stoichiometry (polyol/isocyanate), to the quantity of catalysts and surfactants and to the water content (and so to the density). By its chemical nature, a polyurethane is very flammable. The flammability of polyurethane foams is an important industrial issue. This paper deals with the influence of the composition of conventional flexible PU foams on their thermal stability and fire behaviour.