Halloysite Nanotubes and Silane-Treated Alumina Trihydrate Hybrid Flame Retardant System for High-Performance Cable Insulation

• Published in: Polymers 2021-06, Vol.13 (13), p.2134
• Main Authors: Paszkiewicz, Sandra, Irska, Izabela, Taraghi, Iman, Piesowicz, Elżbieta, Sieminski, Jakub, Zawisza, Karolina, Pypeć, Krzysztof, Dobrzynska, Renata, Terelak-Tymczyna, Agnieszka, Stateczny, Kamil, Szymczak, Bartłomiej
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alumina; Aluminum hydroxide; Composition; Copolymers; Crystallization; Differential scanning calorimetry; Elongation; Ethylene vinyl acetates; Flame retardants; Flammability; Heat conductivity; Hybrid systems; Insulation; Localization; Low density polyethylenes; Mechanical properties; Melt flow index; Morphology; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotubes; Polyethylene; Polymer blends; Polymers; Silanes; Tensile strength; Thermal degradation; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Thermogravimetric analysis; Zeolites
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym13132134

The effect of the presence of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and silane-treated alumina trihydrate (ATH-sil) nanofillers on the mechanical, thermal, and flame retardancy properties of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blends was investigated. Different weight percentages of HNT and ATH-sil nanoparticles, as well as the hybrid system of those nanofillers, were melt mixed with the polymer blend (reference sample) using a twin-screw extruder. The morphology of the nanoparticles and polymer compositions was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The mechanical properties, hardness, water absorption, and melt flow index (MFI) of the compositions were assessed. The tensile strength increases as a function of the amount of HNT nanofiller; however, the elongation at break decreases. In the case of the hybrid system of nanofillers, the compositions showed superior mechanical properties. The thermal properties of the reference sample and those of the corresponding sample with nanofiller blends were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Two peaks were observed in the melting and crystallization temperatures. This shows that the EVA/LDPE is an immiscible polymer blend. The thermal stability of the blends was improved by the presence of HNTs and ATH-sil nanoparticles. Thermal degradation temperatures were shifted to higher values by the presence of hybrid nanofillers. Finally, the flammability of the compositions was assessed. Flammability as reflected by the limiting oxygen index (OI) was increased by the presence of HNT and ATH-sil nanofiller and a hybrid system of the nanoparticles.