Abstract
Melamine resins were used as 50-μm-thick fire retardant coatings for polypropylene (PP). Preceding deposition, low-pressure plasma polymer films of allyl alcohol were coated onto PP to improve the adhesion between PP and melamine resin coatings. The efficiency of such fire retardant coatings was confirmed by flame tests. The plasma-deposited polymer and the dip-coated melamine resin films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The adhesion of coatings was measured using a 90° peel test with a doubled-faced adhesive tape. To detect the locus of failure, the peeled layer surfaces were inspected using optical microscopy and XPS. Thermal properties of PP thick melamine resin-coated films were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis.