Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) microcapsules for the preparation of flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam

Toxic liquid tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate) (TCPP) was microencapsulated with the melamine-formaldehyde resin in water and added as the fire-retardant into the polyurethane foam to slow down its diffusion out. The effect of sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate and polyvinyl alcohol contents on the particle size was studied and the average size of about 50–250 μm was produced. Increasing the stirring rate and PVA content decreased the diameter of the microcapsule. The cell size of polyurethane foams containing TCPP microcapsules was in the range of 100–600 μm. The polyurethane foam containing 9 wt% of the TCPP microcapsules was HB grade flame-rated.