Some materials are inherently flame retardant and do not need the addition of flame retardant additives. Some examples of naturally flame retardant materials are wool, some cotton fibers, eucalyptus, and polyimides. There are several reasons that a polymer might be considered inherently flame retardant. One reason could be the presence of a significant amount of aromatic content or a significant amount of nitrogen.

In a previous post, I talked about how a side effect of the intumescents used to create a thermal shield is the production of hydrates that then degrade and through an endothermic reaction further contribute to the flame retarding process. When some materials start to be consumed in combustion reactions, the inert gases that are produced such as carbon dioxide and water dilute the combustible gases in the area and as a result slow the combustion reaction.

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