The Effect of Kaolin Clay on Fire Retardancy and Thermal Degradation of Intumescent Flame Retardant (IFR)/Natural Rubber Composite

Abstract

Study the effect of kaolin clay as a synergistic agent on flame retardancy and thermal degradation in natural rubber based on intumescent flame retardant (IFR); consisting of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as acid source, pentaerythritol (PER) as a carbonization agent and melamine (ME) as a blowing agent was undertaken. The intumescent was examined at different loading (60, 80 and 100 phr). Kaolin clay was incorporated into flame retardant at four different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt% of flame retardant) to investigate the synergism between the flame retardant materials. The flammability and thermal degradation of composites were characterized by UL-94 rating (vertical burning) test, cone calorimeter (CONE) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). All composites could meet the UL94V-0 standard. A synergist effect was observed when kaolin clay is used in combination with the intumescent flame-retardant through the TGA and CONE results. Moreover Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was done for the char morphology.

Manufacturing, thermal stability, and flammability properties of polypropylene containing new single molecule intumescent flame retardant

“…The peak at 553 cm −1 is for Si―O and Si―O―Al. The band at 495 cm −1 is referred to Si―O and Si―O―Fe stretching . The peak at 760 cm −1 is for Al―O―P .…”

“…The bands at 915 and 795 cm −1 are related to Al―OH and Si―O―Al stretching. The bands at 689 and 553 cm −1 are ascribed to Si―O and Si―O―Al . The FTIR spectrum of melamine demonstrates absorption peaks at 3469, 3419, 3329, and 3128 cm −1 which are imputed to primary amine.…”

“…The improvement in the thermal stability of PP composites is referred to the formation of a thermally stable char layer on the PP surface. Moreover, K acted as a physical barrier which hindered the migration of decomposition products to the surface . Although TGA results in Table show that the K25 composite has the highest thermal stability and char residue compared with other composites, the next sections for flammability tests demonstrate that it has the least flame retardancy.…”

“…The second plane is called “aluminol surface,” and it is an octahedral alumina sheet, with OH groups bonded to Al. Both silica and alumina sheets participate in the apical O atoms . The chemical structure of K initiated many researchers to use modified K and K with IFR systems as flame retardant for polymers such as natural rubber, PP, fibre board, and polyurethane foam .…”

“…Both silica and alumina sheets participate in the apical O atoms . The chemical structure of K initiated many researchers to use modified K and K with IFR systems as flame retardant for polymers such as natural rubber, PP, fibre board, and polyurethane foam . Sahnoun and Bouaziz reported that the reaction of phosphoric acid and K can lead to a new phase from aluminium phosphate .…”