Abstract: This article summarized the characteristics and mechanisms of halogen-free flame retardants commonly used for polycarbonate (PC) resin and also discussed the developing trend of flame-retarded PC compounds. These halogen-free flame retardants could be divided into phosphate ester, sulfonic acid salts, organic silicon, inorganic filler and phosphorus nitrile, and they exhibited their own advantages and limitations. It is believed that the development of new halogen-free flame retardants as well as the combination of different halogen-free flame retardants are main pathways to meet the new requirement of flame-retardant PC products.

Key words: polycarbonate, halogen-free flame retardant, flame-retardant mechanism, sulfonate