Pentaerythritol (PER) is a fundamental carbon source (char former) in halogen-free intumescent flame retardant (IFR) systems. It works synergistically with an acid source (e.g., ammonium polyphosphate/APP) and a blowing agent? (e.g., melamine/MEL) to achieve efficient flame suppression. When exposed to heat, APP decomposes to generate polyphosphoric acid, which catalyzes the dehydration and charring of PER, forming an initial carbon layer. Simultaneously, MEL decomposes to release non-flammable gases (e.g., nitrogen, ammonia), causing the carbon layer to expand into a porous, thermally insulating "char foam"?. This foam layer acts as a physical barrier, shielding the underlying material from heat and oxygen, thus interrupting the combustion cycle.

Key Applications

Polypropylene (PP) & Polyethylene (PE): PER-based IFR systems (e.g., APP/PER/MEL blends) are widely used to achieve UL94 V-0 rating in PP and PE, significantly increasing the Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) while maintaining mechanical properties.

Coatings & Paints: In fire-retardant coatings for steel, wood, or cables, PER enhances char formation, enabling thin-layer coatings to expand into thick insulating foam under fire exposure, extending fire resistance to 30–40 minutes.

Epoxy Resins & Rubber: PER-derived compounds (e.g., pentaerythritol phosphate/PEPA) serve as reactive intermediates to improve char yield and thermal stability in epoxy resins and elastomers.