FLAME RETARDANT POLYPROPYLENE CONTAINING FUNCTIONALIZED NANO CLAYS

摘要

With the development of nano clay technology, new opportunities have emerged for imparting enhanced fire retardancy, mechanical and barrier properties to plastics. Polypropylene resins enjoy a large increase in consumption due to its cost/properties combination. However, one of its main shortcomings originates from its flammability. To remedy the flammability of polypropylene relatively large amounts of flame redardant additives have to be used. This in turn decreases the mechanical properties of the resultant compound. Consequently, the objective of the present investigation is aimed at exploring the effect of functionalized nano clays on the flammability retardation and mechanical properties of polypropylene. Commercial as well as novel functionalized nano clays were included in the study. Experimental results have shown that the burning mechanism of nano clay containing polypropylene compounds was completely changed due to formation of a char layer. Furthermore, 2.5% of bromine functionalized nano clays, reduced the required amount of conventional bromine containing fire retardants by 50% to meet UL 94 V-0 levels. The resulting fire retardant polypropylene compounds possessed higher modulus and strength while preserving the impact resistance compared with neat polypropylene.