Melamine is not a standalone flame retardant but is a crucial synergist (blowing agent) in intumescent systems. It is a nitrogen-rich (67% N) stable compound.

Flame Retardant Mechanism In an Intumescent Flame Retardant (IFR) system, Melamine functions as the “gas source” or “blowing agent”:

1. Gas Generation: At high temperatures, it undergoes endothermic decomposition, releasing large volumes of non-flammable gases (primarily ammonia, , and nitrogen, ).

2. Foam Expansion: These gases are trapped by the viscous, forming char (created by the acid and char sources), causing the char to swell into a thick, insulating foam.

Key Application Areas

• IFR Systems: A fundamental component in P-N intumescent systems. It is always used in combination with an acid source (like APP) and a char source (like PER).

• Applications: These IFR systems are used in Polypropylene (PP), TPEs, and intumescent fire-protective coatings.