ABSTRACT

Polymer foams due to their lightless, low thermal conductivity, easy process, affordable cost, etc. are extensively used in many fields, e.g., building, transportation, furniture, chemical industry, and so on. Polyurethane (PU) and polystyrene (PS) foams are commonly used as thermal insulating materials in building construction. Because both PU and PS foams are very flammable, fires caused by the ignition of them usually occur. Therefore, flame retardation of PU and PS foams is usually needed in the building construction sector. Phenolic (PF) foams also have some applications in building insulation. However, the shortcomings of PF foams, such as brittleness and friability, greatly limit their applications. The commonly used polymer toughening agents for PF foams always sacrifice the excellent fire retardant performance of the foams. In this review, we will introduce the recent developments of flame retardation of rigid PU foams and PS foams, as well as toughening and flame retardation of PF foams.