Focusing on the replacement of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) for flame retardants of polystyrene foam thermal insulation materials, the thermal stability of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(dibromomethylpropyl ether) (801), brominated styrene butadiene copolymer (PFR) and HBCD were studied by simultaneous thermal analyzer. The effects of the above flame retardants on the thermal stability, flame retardancy and combustion properties of extruded polystyrene foam (XPS) and expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) were systematically studied by simultaneous thermal analyzer, limiting oxygen index and cone calorimeter. The results show that the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the flame retardants are almost the same, the maximum thermal weight loss rate of HBCD is the largest, and the thermal stability of 801 and PFR is better than that of HBCD. The thermal stability of EPS and XPS decrease with the loading of the flame retardants, the reduction of the initial thermal decomposition temperature of XPS with HBCD is obvious. The flame retarded XPS and EPS with the flame retardants show good flame retardancy, and limiting oxygen index values of the samples are above 30.0. Comparison of the flame retardants, there is few different effects on the combustion properties of XPS , there are some effects on the combustion properties of EPS, the total heat release and total smoke generation of EPS are improved obviously by 801, and the peak value of heat release rate and CO2 production of EPS decrease significantly by PFR.

polystyrene foam, thermal insulation materials, environment protection, flame retardancy, thermal stability, combustion properties