STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A COMPLEX POLYMER FLAME-RETARDANT SYSTEM BASED ON AMINO-FORMALDEHYDE RESINS

Abstract

Ensuring an adequate level of fire protection for building structures and materials is one of the priority areas of fire safety research. Wooden materials pose a particular hazard under fire conditions due to their high combustibility and rapid flame spread. In this regard, the development of effective fire-retardant agents capable of increasing the fire resistance limit of materials and reducing the intensity of combustion remains highly relevant.

One of the promising directions in the development of fire protection systems is the use of complex polymer-based flame-retardant compositions, particularly those based on amino-formaldehyde resins. These materials are characterized by high adhesion capacity, the ability to form protective coatings, and relative technological accessibility. Modification of such resins with orthophosphoric acid ensures the formation of thermally stable phosphorus-containing structures, which intensify char-forming processes and reduce the rate of thermal degradation of the polymer matrix. The additional incorporation of natural polymers, in particular starch, contributes to the improvement of the film-forming characteristics of the composition and enhances its environmental safety in accordance with current regulatory and technical requirements.

As a result of experimental studies, it was established that the developed complex polymer flame-retardant composition AMOK‑1 provides a significant increase in the fire resistance of wood. According to tests performed in accordance with DSTU 9330:2025, the average mass loss of the samples was 5.93%, which corresponds to Group 1 of fire-protection effectiveness. The obtained indicators demonstrate the composition’s high ability to reduce the intensity of thermal degradation and to slow down the combustion processes.

Investigation of the mechanism of action showed that the fire-protective effect is achieved through the synergistic interaction of an acid catalyst, a carbon donor, and gas‑forming components, which ensure dehydration, carbonization, and intumescence processes. The formation of a spatially cross‑linked amino‑formaldehyde polymer matrix contributes to increased thermal stability and mechanical integrity of the protective layer.