article_snippet: This char-like foam then helps to prevent the flames from catching alight on the material.
article_snippet: Currently many materials including furniture, such as sofas, are coated in chemical flame retardants that have been found to be accumulating in the environment and have been linked to infertility, cancers and birth defects.
article_snippet: This means that This possesses some flame retardant features that could be exploited for conferring fire resistance to fabrics and also to low melting plastics.'
article_snippet: The intumescent fire protection screen is thus formed at a lower temperature than that at which thermal decomposition of organic polymers occurs. '
article_snippet: Furthermore, the chemical composition of the intumescent residue on heat exposure is converted into a highly thermally stable ceramic-like material which is resistant to thermal oxidation. '
highlights_snippet: These could be used to protect fabrics, furniture and plastics from fire .