Flame retarded polyethylene/wood flour composites with high performances: Satisfying both sides with intumescent flame retardants and synergistic compatibilizers, respectively

Abstract

WPC is inflammable that threatens the safety of life and property. To reduce the risk of conflagration, it is important to make WPC flame retardant. But the flame retarded WPC is usually highly loaded which deteriorates its mechanical properties. It is difficult to satisfy both sides. In this article, we make attempt to prepare the flame retarded polyethylene/wood flour (WF) composites with high mechanical properties by using an ammonium polyphosphate and phosphorus based intumescent flame retardants (IFR) system. To maintain the high performances of the flame retarded composites, the multi‐monomer graft copolymers are synergistically used as the interfacial compatibilizers for the composites. Cone calorimeter testing, UL94 flame tests, limited oxygen index (LOI) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are used to evaluate the flammability properties and thermal stability of the composites. Results show that WF enhances the flame retardancy of the composites with the help of suitable IFR system. The coordination of flame retardants with WF content is an effective measure to control the fire spreading and the risk of combustion. The incorporation of flame retardants transforms the role of WF from the inflammable material into the charring agent of IFR system. By using the IFR system, a highly flame retarded composite with V0 classification based on the vertical combustion testing was successfully prepared. With the help of the synergistic compatibilizers, it is possible to prepare an intumescable flame retarded rPE/WF composites with high performances. The incorporation of WF, and flame retardants can improve the thermal stability of the composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:569–579, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

High-Performance Wood–Plastic Composites Based on Self-Assembly Sandwich-Like 2D/2D MMT/Zn2+-MEL-PA Supramolecular Structure: Enhanced Mechanical and Flame-Retardant Properties

“…After the addition of 20 wt % MMT/ZnMPA plates and ZnMPA, the carbon layer was more continuous and denser. In addition, there were also some bubbles in the carbon layer, which can be attributed to gas generated by the decomposition of ZnMPA being wrapped in a carbon layer . Raman spectroscopy was implemented to analyze the graphitization degree of the char (Figure S4).…”

“…In addition, there were also some bubbles in the carbon layer, which can be attributed to gas generated by the decomposition of ZnMPA being wrapped in a carbon layer. 46 Raman spectroscopy was implemented to analyze the graphitization degree of the char (Figure S4). The two representative peaks at 1355 and 1585 cm −1 corresponded to D and G peaks, respectively.…”

Comparative study of thermal degradation and flame retardancy between straw flour and wood flour on wood–polypropylene composites

“…2,3 Agricultural and forestry biomass resources have attracted great attention to reinforce polymer in recent years because of their environmentally friendly, renewable, high specific strength, sustainability, and ecoefficiency, 4 such as wheat cereal, paddy and flax straw, corn straw, sunflower and pepper stalks, kiwi pruning, peanut hulls, corn piths, bagasse fiber, and grass clippings. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] There are some disadvantages to using natural fibers, such as lower durability and restricted processing temperatures, which often limit the type of polymer available for the matrix. Among various polymer matrices, polypropylene (PP) has been widely used to produce natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites because of its low density, high water resistance, low cost, chemical resistance, and easy processing.…”