United States. Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) developed a new fire retardant based on a clay coating for polyurethane foams.
The thick, fast-forming coating that the NIST team has created has a uniform high concentration of clay particles from flame inhibitors, and adheres strongly to the surface of Swiss cheese-like polyurethane foam, which is used in furniture cushions, carpet filling, children's car seats, and other items.
The report says that to date, researchers have constructed coatings by stacking thin layers in pairs that are held together by basic electrical attraction. With no clay present, only a pure polymer, a thick layer forms quickly, but it is not a fire retardant. With clay in all layers, whether the coating is too thin or the clay content is too low will be an effective fire retardant.
