The synergistic effect of boric acid and ammonium polyphosphate on the thermal degradation and flammability of pine-needles

The synergistic effect of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and boric acid (BA) on the flame retardancy and thermal degradation of pine needles was investigated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the presence of an ammoniumpolyphosphate and boric acid system increased the char residue and decreased the pyrolysis temperature of the pine needles. The derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) showed that the ammonium polyphosphate and boric acid had shifted the degradation peaks of the pine needles to lower temperatures. The cone calorimetry test results showed that the values of HRR, THR, SPR, TSP and the mass loss (%) of the pine needles treated with ammonium polyphosphate and boric acid (APP/BA = 3/2)were significantly lower than the other samples. Therefore, the APP and BA system had a better effect on the pine needles overall than the APP alone.