Influence of montmorillonite on the properties of halogen–antimony flame retardant polypropylene composites

• Published in: Polymer composites 2019-05, Vol.40 (5), p.1930-1938
• Main Authors: Xu, Jianlin, Liu, Xiaoqi, Yang, Wenlong, Niu, Lei, Zhao, Jinqiang, Ma, Bingxue, Kang, Chenghu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimony; Antimony trioxide; Ball milling; Crystallization; Flame retardants; Melt blending; Montmorillonite; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polypropylene; Properties (attributes); Tensile strength
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.24969

In order to improve the flame retardant properties of polypropylene, MMT/nano‐Sb2O3/BEO/PP‐based composites were prepared by melt blending method after mechanical ball mixing by using a high energy ball milling technique. The crystallization performance, flame retardant performance, and tensile strength of the composites were investigated, and the flame‐retardant mechanism was analysed. The results show that montmorillonite (MMT) can improve not only the tensile strength of polypropylene composites, but also the flame retardant performance basing on increasing of the intensity of residual carbon layer. Incorporation of 13 wt% of BEO, 7 wt% of nano‐Sb2O3 and 7 wt% of MMT within PP matrix resulted in excellent frame retardant properties, which the LOI value of MMT/nano‐Sb2O3/BEO/PP composites increased to 27.9% and the falme retardant grade reached V‐0 grade in UL‐94 testing. Meanwhile, The crystallinity and tensile strength of the composites are better than those of pure PP. The addition of MMT can reduce the using amount of BEO on the basis of improving the flame retardant performance and tensile strength. POLYM. COMPOS., 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers