Polymer Degradation and Stability最新文献

{"title":"Exploration of dynamic mechanical analysis for studying degraded polymers: Dynamic mechanical changes after ultraviolet exposure","authors":"Hsiu-Chin Huang ,&nbsp;Donald Hunston ,&nbsp;Lipiin Sung","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111698","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111698","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many techniques have been used to investigate the changes in the mechanical properties of polymers induced by photodegradation. In general, the observation of clear variations in bulk properties relies on destructive testing methods. This indicates the difficulties associated with distinguishing the effects of varying degradation levels using less-destructive approaches. This study employed dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) as a less-destructive approach by applying a very low strain amplitude and narrowing the scanned temperature range. The temperature sweep with multi-frequency scans was limited from the glassy state to the lower portion of the glass transition. This approach was designed to minimize modification to the internal molecular structure of the samples while still capturing discernible changes in mechanical behavior. An amorphous polyester film was used with varying ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Different degrees of degradation were carried out on the polyester using NIST SPHERE (Simulated Photodegradation via High Energy Radiant Exposure). After exposure, samples were stored in an ambient environment for different durations. The DMA results showed the exposed polyester had higher stiffness and less sensitivity to a high-frequency oscillatory strain relative to the unexposed polyester. Furthermore, the continuous chemical conversion of unstable intermediates to final photoproducts occurring in the samples after UV exposure was revealed. The chemical property was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The impact of these chemical changes was effectively monitored using DMA by showing dynamic changes in the bulk mechanical properties of the samples during post-exposure storage. The dynamic mechanical changes facilitated the evaluation of the effects of varying degrees of degradation and the differences in internal structure between the exposed samples. This study demonstrated the potential of utilizing DMA to assess polymer degradation, including in severely degraded polyester samples, in a less destructive manner compared to test-to-failure methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111698"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A hyperbranched P/N/B/Si-containing multi-element flame retardant for high performance and fire safety epoxy thermosets","authors":"Xiaohan Li ,&nbsp;Yepeng Wang ,&nbsp;Yijia Chen ,&nbsp;Jiarui Du ,&nbsp;Yawen Chen ,&nbsp;Huiyun Yu ,&nbsp;Ju Huo ,&nbsp;Xiaohua Tan ,&nbsp;Yakai Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although epoxy resins (EPs) exhibit superior overall performance, their use in advanced applications is restricted due to their inherent flammability. Improving epoxy thermosets' flame resistance without sacrificing their overall qualities is still challenging. In this work, a hyperbranched structural flame retardant (DVSiBD) with four flame retardant elements (P, N, B and Si) was synthesized and incorporated into EP to prepare retardant thermosets. The thermosets achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 28.3 % following incorporating 4 wt% DVSiBD. Simultaneously, there was a 49.8 % decrease in the peak heat release rate (pHRR) and a 17.4 % reduction in the total heat release (THR). The improved flame-retardant efficacy of DVSiBD is chiefly attributable to the synergistic effects of the phosphorus and nitrogen chain segments, alongside the silicon and boron derivatives, as confirmed by a comprehensive analysis of the condensed and gas phases. Additionally, DVSiBD catalyzed and participated in the curing of EP, resulting in EP thermosets with higher cross-linking density, while preserving high glass transition temperature (<em>T</em>_g) and thermal decomposition temperature. Attributed to its flexible Si-O bond and rigid DOPO aromatic unit, the flexural and impact strength of EP thermosets containing 4 wt% DVSiBD was improved by 17.5 % and 39.9 % compared with EP thermosets without DVSiBD, respectively. This work offers a viable approach for the development of hyperbranched flame retardants that contain P, N, B, and Si flame retardant elements, as well as for the enhancement of the retardancy of EP thermosets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111701"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In-situ polymerization engineered anisotropic biomass fire-resistant aerogels: Triple-functional integration of thermal insulation, mechanical robustness, and fire-warning performance","authors":"Ling Gong,&nbsp;Yongqian Liu,&nbsp;Xueying Lu,&nbsp;Zhiming Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111703","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111703","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biomass aerogels have emerged as promising green building insulation materials owing to their unique porous structure and sustainability. Nevertheless, their practical applications are constrained by poor fire resistance and mechanical stability. In this study, lightweight biomass aerogels (CS) based on sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and sodium alginate (SA) were constructed, and graphene oxide (GO) was further introduced to reinforce the framework (CSG). Subsequently, polyaniline (PANI) was coated on the surface of the aerogel as a conductive shell layer by <em>in situ</em> polymerization to form a core-shell aerogel (CSGP) with fire safety and intelligent fire warning capability. Benefiting from the multiple interactions between biomass components, GO, PANI and Ca²⁺, CSGP core-shell aerogel exhibits a hierarchical porous crosslinked network, and at the same time possesses higher compressive strength (8.36 MPa), thermal insulation property (31.36 mW/(m·K)) and water resistance (32 days) than CS and CSG aerogels. In fire simulation tests, CSGP aerogel displays excellent flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index up to 49%, peak heat release rate as low as 31.37 kW/m²), owing to the dense physical barrier created by the PANI/GO composite layer. Furthermore, leveraging thermal reduction behavior of GO coupled with charge transport enhancement of PANI enable an ultra-fast fire warning response (1.3 s), crucial for emergency evacuation. This work establishes an innovative strategy for the integrated multifunctional design of biomass aerogel for mechanics-fire protection-smart warning, while promoting their potential application in the field of intelligent buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111703"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microencapsulated phase change materials functionalized with PBA for enhancing the flame retardancy of thermally regulated rigid polyurethane foam","authors":"Gaoyuan Li ,&nbsp;Zexuan Zhao ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Sun ,&nbsp;Guanjin Chen ,&nbsp;Xilei Chen ,&nbsp;Chuanmei Jiao ,&nbsp;Hui Li ,&nbsp;Shouke Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF), as one of the important materials for energy-efficient buildings, faces significant challenges in achieving multifunctionality, specifically the integration of flame retardancy, mechanical robustness, and thermal regulation. Phase change material (PCM), which store and release thermal energy through reversible phase transitions, have emerged as promising candidates for thermal regulation due to their high energy storage density and stable transition temperatures. Nevertheless, their practical application is often limited by flammability and leakage issues. To address these limitations, this study presents a novel phase change composite (MFPCM@PBA), synthesized by encapsulating n-octadecane (C18) within a melamine-formaldehyde resin shell via in situ polymerization, followed by in situ deposition of Prussian blue analogue (PBA) onto the shell surface. The resulting MFPCM@PBA were incorporated into RPUF to impart integrated flame retardant and thermal regulation functionalities. RPUF-5%MFPCM@PBA exhibited a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 25.6% and demonstrated reductions in total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) by 34.4% and 46.7%, respectively, compared to unmodified RPUF. Furthermore, under continuous heating for 500 s, the central temperature of RPUF-5%MFPCM@PBA was 20 °C lower than that of RPUF. This work presents an effective strategy for constructing multifunctional polymeric foams with enhanced fire safety and thermal regulation, offering promising potential for applications in energy-efficient and flame-retardant building materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111702"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ti4O7-incorporated polypyrrole/activated carbon foam for enhancing long-term stability of polypyrrole in biomedical pH sensing","authors":"Yue Cao ,&nbsp;Dan Wang ,&nbsp;Kai Qi ,&nbsp;Yubing Qiu ,&nbsp;Xingpeng Guo","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The poor stability of polypyrrole (PPy) restricts its application in biomedical pH sensing. This study incorporated Ti₄O₇ particles with PPy and deposited them onto activated carbon foam (ACF) via a galvanostatic method, preparing a (Ti₄O₇ + PPy)/ACF composite that significantly enhances the long-term stability of PPy. The prepared Ti₄O₇ was modified with p-toluenesulfonate (pTS^–), forming negatively charged Ti₄O₇-pTS particles via S–O–Ti bonds between pTS^– and Ti³⁺/Ti⁴⁺ on Ti₄O₇. These particles can tightly bind with N^δ+ in PPy chains, effectively inhibiting pTS^– loss and PPy degradation. During a 90-day immersion test in Hank's solution (37℃), the pH sensitivity of (Ti₄O₇ + PPy)/ACF increased from 65 to 74 mV/pH during 0–7 days (activation period), stabilized at 63–64 mV/pH during 30–60 days, then decreased to 58 mV/pH, showing significantly enhanced sensitivity and long-term stability compared to PPy/ACF. In (Ti₄O₇ + PPy)/ACF, PPy provides primary pH response, while Ti₄O₇ enhances its sensitivity and stability. The decline in its pH sensing performance is primarily caused by the degradation of PPy and the loss of Ti₄O₇ particles. The involved mechanisms are discussed in detail.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111699"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High performance polydicyclopentadiene engineering materials with intrinsic flame retardancy: flexible copolymerization of flame-retardant elements and multiple interactions within aggregated structures","authors":"Li Yang ,&nbsp;Jie Xu ,&nbsp;Ping Wang ,&nbsp;Jiacheng Ling ,&nbsp;Xinyun Hu ,&nbsp;Wenxiu Liu ,&nbsp;Yiyang Zhou ,&nbsp;Tian Cao ,&nbsp;Guilin Li ,&nbsp;Jin Liu ,&nbsp;Shaojie Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving the flame-retardant performance of polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) while maintaining mechanical properties has remained a technical challenge. In this study, a novel synchronous enhancement strategy for intrinsic flame retardancy and reinforcement based on frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) was proposed, in which the newly synthesized phosphorus-containing norbornene flame retardant (NB-DPPC) and 5-norbornene-2-carboxylic acid (NB-COOH) were embedded into the cross-linked networks of PDCPD. The effects of NB-COOH and NB-DPPC on the thermodynamics and kinetics of the polymerization, as well as the crosslinked structure, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy of the copolymers, were systematically investigated. The results showed that by introducing NB-COOH into the PDCPD system improved the mechanical properties and flame resistance of the material. Specifically, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the specific copolymer reached 71.81 MPa and 123.62 %, which were 50.07 % and about 12 times higher than those of PDCPD, respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the material reached 30.2 %, resulting in an increase of 51.76 %. According to the carbon layer structure and combustion gas composition, the flame retardant mechanism was further investigated. This work established a efficient method for the preparation of intrinsic flame retardant PDCPD and provided a strategy for constructing PDCPD materials with excellent comprehensive performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111695"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidating oxidative degradation of phenol-formaldehyde adhesive induced by mold colonization","authors":"Ran Yang ,&nbsp;Shuwei Xu ,&nbsp;Hui Wang ,&nbsp;Xinxing Wu ,&nbsp;Shuaibo Han ,&nbsp;Chunde Jin ,&nbsp;Fangli Sun ,&nbsp;Jingda Huang ,&nbsp;Yizhong Cao ,&nbsp;Qiang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mold colonization compromises the mechanical robustness of cured phenol-formaldehyde (PF) adhesive, arising as a significant durability obstacle to the long-term services of engineered bamboo products (EBPs). Herein, the colonization behaviors and oxidative degradation of PF adhesive induced by common mold species, namely <em>Aspergillus niger</em> (<em>A. niger</em>), <em>Trichoderma virens</em> (<em>T. virens</em>), and <em>Penicillium citrinum</em> (<em>P. citrinum</em>), were investigated, aiming to reveal the plausible degradation pathways. The results demonstrated the successful colonization of <em>A. niger, T. virens</em>, and <em>P. citrinum</em> on PF adhesive surfaces, with the diffuse distribution of oxidases in which laccase occupies the most. The enzymatic assays revealed the superior laccase activity of <em>P. citrinum</em> (26.5 ± 1.81 U·mL^-1) as compared with <em>A. niger</em> and <em>T. virens</em>, resulting in the progressive oxidation with aliphatic carbon reduction (66.1 %) of PF adhesive. Strong binding interactions between PF adhesive and laccase were unmasked, showing a binding energy of -7.51 kcal·mol^-1. Meanwhile, the transition metal ion in laccase is closer to the phenolic hydroxyl group (15.2 Å), indicating the capability for electron transferring. The plausible degradation pathway of mold-colonized PF adhesive can be three-staged, i.e., phenolic oxidation, quinone formation, and subsequent ring-opening rearrangement. Such speculation was further supported by the experimental identification of phenolic fragments and benzene-functionalized cyclopentene derivatives. Nanoindentation quantified severe mechanical deterioration with a 65.3 % reduction in elastic modulus of PF adhesive after 20-day <em>P. citrinum</em> colonization, while interfacial delamination in bamboo-PF bonds was also observed. These findings elucidate the enzymatic pathways driving PF adhesive degradation from molecular function to macroscopic failure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111696"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lifetime prediction of thermo-oxidative degradation of a modified epoxy resin and its glass fiber composite in air atmosphere and correlation with long-term aging behavior","authors":"Martin Demleitner ,&nbsp;Lukas Endner ,&nbsp;Holger Ruckdäschel","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thermal stability and material degradation are critical aspects of polymers and composites, influencing their processing, operating temperatures and overall lifespan. Due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties, epoxy resins find widespread use in coatings, adhesives, and composites across various industries. This study examines the thermo-oxidative stability of high-Tg epoxy resin and glass fiber composite systems (GFRP), focusing on long-term degradation mechanisms in air atmosphere and kinetic modeling for accurate lifetime predictions. Here, the influence of commonly used additives such as polyethersulfone as toughener, and aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlPi), as flame retardant on the thermo-oxidative degradation and resulting weight loss was investigated.</div><div>Model-free kinetic approaches were employed to characterize the thermo-oxidative degradation. In this study, model-free methods such as Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Friedman are used because they offer flexibility and do not require detailed knowledge of the chemical reactions involved. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used for dynamic degradation measurements and weight loss predictions, while oven aging experiments in air atmosphere at three temperatures for up to 1000 h were conducted to verify the predictions.</div><div>The study highlights the challenges in extrapolating short-term degradation data to long-term behavior, especially under oxidative conditions. It also explores the influence of various additives and fiber reinforcement on thermo-oxidative stability, with the goal of enhancing future material formulations for high-performance applications. Additionally, it provides improved insight into the predictability of a material’s lifespan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111686"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262270","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"One stone, three birds: One-pot synthesis of DOPO-based ammonium phosphonate polymer for durable flame-retardant, anti-wrinkle and anti-ultraviolet cotton fabric","authors":"Suhui Xie ,&nbsp;Tao Mao ,&nbsp;Liang Li ,&nbsp;Hang Xiao ,&nbsp;Peng Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111697","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111697","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Durable flame-retardant, anti-ultraviolet and anti-wrinkle cotton fabric not only provides long-term protections from fire and ultraviolet ray in daily life, but also maintains its appearance or beauty during wear. However, it is still a great challenge to facilely prepare durable flame-retardant, anti-wrinkle and anti-ultraviolet cotton fabric with a multifunctional agent. Herein, we synthesized a novel DOPO-based ammonium phosphonate polymer (SH). It was used as a “one-stone-three-birds” finishing agent to prepare formaldehyde-free, durable flame-retardant, anti-wrinkle and anti-ultraviolet cotton fabric via a facile baking-crosslinking strategy. Thanks to the chemical crosslinking between SH and cellulose, the fabric treated by 15 wt % SH solution achieved a wrinkle recovery angle of 258.1°. The P/N synergy and ultraviolet absorption capacity of SH markedly enhanced the flame retardancy and anti-ultraviolet property of fabric, respectively. For the fabric treated by 25 wt % SH solution, the limiting oxygen index and ultraviolet protection factor were 41.1 % and 285.4, which still maintained at 31.8 % and 189.4 after 50 washing cycles following AATCC 61–2013 3A standard, respectively. SH played flame-retardant roles by promoting char formation, quenching free radicals, and diluting oxygen and fuels. This study not only proposes a novel insight for designing “many birds with one stone” finishing agent for cotton fabric, but also an inspired strategy to facilely prepare multifunctional cotton fabric with high durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111697"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145262377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel phosphorus-containing nitrogen oxide for enhancing fire safety and UV shielding properties of thermoplastic polyurethanes","authors":"Hongjin Wang ,&nbsp;Ao Qin ,&nbsp;Yue Xu ,&nbsp;Miaojun Xu ,&nbsp;Bin Li ,&nbsp;Lubin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid development of emerging fields has put forward stricter requirements for the comprehensive properties of flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Traditional phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardants needed high loading levels to achieve flame retardancy in TPU, resulting in significantly reduced mechanical performance and aging resistance of TPU composites. In this study, a novel flame retardant N-((diphenylphosphoryl)oxy)-P, P-diphenylphosphinic amide (NDPA), containing multiple flame retardant groups was successfully synthesized by introducing N<img>O endowed with gas phase radical trapping capability while regulating P-C and P-O within a phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant structure. Merely 2 wt% NDPA enabled TPU to achieve the UL-94 V-0 rating, with the limiting oxygen index (LOI) rising to 30.1 %. The flame retardant mechanism analysis showed that NDPA played an excellent free radical quenching effect in gas phase, and promoted the formation of expanded and high-quality shielding char layers in TPU composites, which significantly improved the flame retardancy of TPU composites. Therefore, the peak heat release rate and total heat release of TPU/NDPA2 composites were decreased by 49.7 % and 28.1 % compared with pure TPU. Meanwhile, due to the good compatibility and uniform dispersion of NDPA in the TPU matrix, the TPU/NDPA composites retained their original transparency and mechanical properties. Additionally, the conjugated aromatic structure of NDPA bestowed TPU composites with excellent UV shielding performance. This study demonstrated that the synthesized TPU/NDPA composites achieved the optimal balance of flame retardancy, transparency, UV shielding, and mechanical properties, providing an innovative scheme for the design of high-performance TPU composites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":406,"journal":{"name":"Polymer Degradation and Stability","volume":"242 ","pages":"Article 111691"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145154987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}