Study on flame retardancy of APP/PEPA/MoO₃ synergism in vinyl ester resins

A range of flame retardant vinyl ester resins (VERs) samples have been produced containing different contents of PEPA (1-oxo-4-hydroxymethyl-2,6,7-trioxa-l-phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane), APP (ammonium polyphosphate), and MoO₃ (molybdenum trioxide). By investigating the flame retardancy of VER samples such as limiting oxygen index and UL-94, the synergistic flame retardance of APP, PEPA, and MoO3 has been revealed. The cone calorimeter is an instrument that measures the combustion data of samples. In the VER composites on fire, the synergistic smoke suppression effect of the APP, PEPA, and MoO₃ was detected. The gas and condensed phase of VER composites with APP, PEPA, and MoO₃ were tested by the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and FTIR. The char residues of samples have been studied at length by scanning electron microscopy and FTIR. The results show that the presence of MoO3 can promote the formation of P-O and P-O structures.