Flame Retardant Performance of Halogen Free, Alumina Trihydrate Based Bulk Molding Compound

摘要

Decabromo-diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) and alumina trihydrate (ATH) are both studied separately and together in BMC formulations that are compared with respect to cone calorimetry and NBS smoke chamber results. These results are related to the difference in mechanisms of flame retardance for the two. BMC formulations based on deca-BDE do give benefits with regard to decreased peak rate of heat release (RHR) and effective heat of combustion, no benefits with regard to time to peak RHR and time to ignition, and decreased performance with regard to carbon monoxide yield and Dm @ 4 minutes and Dm maximum. However using ATH in conjunction with deca-BDE (ATH/Br) improves performance in all of the above aforementioned parameters except Dm maximum. On the hand BMC formulations with an increasing weight % alumina trihydrate and, no deca-BDE present, display a linear dependence in the direction of goodness on the time to ignition, peak RHR, time to peak RHR, effective heat of combustion, and carbon monoxide yield. Smoke chamber results show reduced specific optical density, Dm @ 4 minutes and at Dm maximum. The 100% ATH formulas matched or exceeded the ATH/Br based formulas in all quantities measured except the effective heat of combustion. Whether or not this is a particularly important result would need to be determined by the formulator with regard to the flame retardant testing that is dictated by the application.