Flammability of an Intumescent Flame-Retardant Polyethylene System

摘要

The flammability of an intumescent flame retardant PE system has been investigated via TGA, LOI, UL-94 test and cone calorimetry. It can be found that the performance of this intumescent system can be improved by the addition of small amounts (0.2%) metal chelate. All formulations studied provide good flame retardant behaviour, with LOI≥27.4 and UL-94 V-0 rating. The onset of decomposition for flame retarded PE (PE-IFR, PE-IFR-metal (1) and PE-IFR-metal (2)) commences at lower temperature than that of pure PE but continues to a higher temperature, leaving a greater residue. Significant differences have been observed in the thermal degradation behaviours between flame retarded PE (PE-IFR,PE-IFR-metal (1) and PE-IFR-metal (2)) and pure PE, meanwhile obvious decreases in HRR,PHRR and MSL compared to those of pure PE were noted from the results of cone calorimetry.