COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF FLAME RETARDANTS ON THE IGNITION TEMPERATURE OF EPOXY COMPOSITES

The disadvantage of polymeric materials, including epoxy resins, is their increased fire hazard. Reducing the flammability of polymeric materials is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. One of the ways to reduce the flammability of polymers is the introduction of special additives into the polymer matrix with flame retarding properties, which leads to a change in the nature of the processes occurring during the combustion of the polymer, or to blocking the combustion process with non-combustible or inhibiting substances. In this work, aluminum trihydroxide, melamine polyphosphate, and melamine poly(magnesium phosphate) were used as flame retardants to enhance the flame-resistant properties of epoxy resin. The filler loading in the epoxy composites was 10 wt. %. The experimental studies have been carried out to determine the ignition temperature of the produced epoxy composites. The data obtained were compared with the ignition temperature of a control sample of epoxy resin without filler. The results indicated that the incorporation of all the flame retardants studied resulted in an increase in the ignition temperature. The ignition temperature of the samples filled with melamine polyphosphate and melamine poly(magnesium phosphate) increased by 28 and 11 °C, respectively. However, the best result was obtained for a sample filled with aluminum trihydroxide: the ignition temperature of this sample was 40 °C higher than that of the unfilled epoxy resin.

Mechanical and Fire Properties of Multicomponent Flame Retardant EPDM Rubbers Using Aluminum Trihydroxide, Ammonium Polyphosphate, and Polyaniline

In this study, multicomponent flame retardant systems, consisting of ammonium polyphosphate (APP), aluminum trihydroxide (ATH), and polyaniline (PANI), were used in ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. The multicomponent system was designed to improve flame retardancy and the mechanical properties of the rubber compounds, while simultaneously reducing the amount of filler. PANI was applied at low loadings (7 phr) and combined with the phosphorous APP (21 phr) and the mineral flame retardant ATH (50 phr). A comprehensive study of six EPDM rubbers was carried out by systematically varying the fillers to explain the impact of multicomponent flame retardant systems on mechanical properties. The six EPDM materials were investigated via the UL 94, limiting oxygen index (LOI), FMVSS 302, glow wire tests, and the cone calorimeter, showing that multicomponent flame retardant systems led to improved fire performance. In cone calorimeter tests the EPDM/APP/ATH/PANI composite reduced the maximum average rate of heat emission (MARHE) to 142 kW·m−2, a value 50% lower than that for the unfilled EPDM rubber. Furthermore, the amount of phosphorus in the residues was quantified and the mode of action of the phosphorous flame retardant APP was explained. The data from the cone calorimeter were used to determine the protective layer effect of the multicomponent flame retardant systems in the EPDM compounds.

Combined influence of organo-modified Indian bentonite nanoclay and fire retardants on thermal and fire behavior of vinylester

This article reports synergetic effect of naturally available Indian bentonite nanoclay and fire retardants on the thermal and fire retardation behavior of vinylester. Indian bentonite nanoclay organically modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide by cation exchange capacity method, along with aluminum trihydroxide and magnesium hydroxide were dispersed in vinylester and tested. Addition of 30% aluminum trihydroxide and 4 wt% Indian bentonite increased the glass transition temperature of vinylester by 24.4%; decreased thermal degradation by 47%, vertical burning rate by 54% and horizontal burning rate by 72%; and increased limiting oxygen index by 56.6% and microhardness by 49.6%.