Making safer flame retardants

Polyurethane foam is ubiquitous in upholstery across the world. Unfortunately, it is also highly flammable. Halogenated flame retardants historically have been added to the foam to prevent fires, but they’ve also been shown to be harmful to human and environmental health, leaving a demand for safer options. In a talk delivered Aug. 22 at the American Chemical Society Fall 2024 meeting, a team from materials scientist Jaime Grunlan’s lab at Texas A&M University presented their latest flame retardant. They say the product is easier to apply than other alternatives and safer than halogenated retardants. Earlier foam retardants made in Grunlan’s protected against burning, but they required several more steps to install. Scientists would need to dip the foam repeatedly in alternating positively and negatively charged polyelectrolyte solutions to slowly build multiple protective layers. Their more recent work, by comparison, includes fewer steps. The researchers dunk the foam into a pot