Special issue based on the Fire Retardant Technologies 2014 conference held at University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK April 2014

Fire science operates across socio-economic as well as scientific and technological boundaries. Focus on the fire behaviour of materials, primarily natural and synthetic polymers, determines the safety of the built environment, transport and defence infrastructure. Within the materials chemical sector, the importance of thermal and fire behaviour is significant for a majority of the areas of interest defined by the RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry) Speciality Chemicals Sector. This was the main reason for the organisation of this conference by the RSC, which was also supported by the EU COST MP1105 FLARETEX programme. The COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is one of the longest-running European frameworks supporting cooperation among scientists and researchers across Europe. The FLARETEX programme ‘Sustainable flame retardancy for textiles and related materials based on nanoparticles substituting conventional chemicals’, (2012 – 2016) aims to promote cooperation between researchers from different scientific disciplines, efficiently exchanging ideas and strategies in order to lead developments in fire safety, fire retardants and environmentally friendly fire retarded materials. Every year on average 6 events are organized, this conference being part of the 2014 programme.

The three day conference included invited lectures on all aspects of fire retardant materials ranging from fundamentals of fire chemistry to current state of flame retardant types based on their mechanisms of actions and areas of applications; practical problems/issues while processing or in usage; novel techniques of their incorporation/application in materials; fire / smoke / toxicity safety regulations and testing methods. Each invited speaker for a particular theme provided an overview of his/her field of expertise including his/her own research work. Original research was also presented through 35 poster presentations. The selected papers in this edition of Polymer Degradation and Stability are submissions invited by the guest editors, whose main goal was to present some of the latest research selected from the conference lectures and posters dealing with fire retardant materials. We as guest editors, hope that these papers will provide the latest development in research and design of new fire retardant materials and understanding their mechanisms of action.