Triethyl Phosphate (TEP) is a simple, halogen-free liquid phosphate ester. It is often used as a flame retardant, but also as a plasticizer and viscosity reducer.
Flame Retardant Mechanism TEP is relatively volatile and works almost exclusively in the gas phase:
- Gas Phase Action: It readily vaporizes and releases radicals into the flame, which quench the combustion chain reaction.
- Solvent/Plasticizer: It is a strong polar solvent and plasticizer, which is its primary function in some applications.
Key Application Areas
- Polyurethane (PU) Foam: Used as a flame retardant, often in combination with other FRs.
- Cellulosic Plastics: Used as a flame-retardant plasticizer in cellulose acetate.
- Process Aid: Widely used as a viscosity reducer (reactive diluent) in various resin and coating systems.
