Intrinsic flame resistance of polyurethane flexible foams: Unexpectedly low flammability without any flame retardant

Abstract

Virgin polyurethane flexible foams are widely assumed to be highly flammable materials. The flammability of three model polyurethane flexible foams suggests that this may not be universally true. Two of them show unexpectedly low flammability in the limiting oxygen index test and pass flammability tests such as FMVSS 302 and FAR 25.853. Cone calorimetric measurements at 25 kW/m2 and 50 kW/m2 furthermore show a high resistance against ignition and demonstrate the self-extinguishing properties of these two virgin, flame-retardant-free, polyurethane flexible foams.