Combustion characteristics of flexible PVC.

摘要

In plasticized PVC (pPVC) formulations, the plasticizer used can act as a fuel for the propagation of fire, making the compound susceptible to burning. In this study an attempt was made to replace completely the plasticizer with chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). CPE offers resistance to migration, being a high molecular weight flexibilizer, and its chlorine content should improve the flame retardancy of the product. The high loading of CPE was incorporated to achieve significant softening of rigid PVC (UPVC). The burning characteristic of {dollar}>{dollar}PVC + CPE{dollar}<{dollar} blends were evaluated and compared with pPVC, containing phosphate esters, flame retardant plasticizers. It was observed that {dollar}>{dollar}PVC + CPE{dollar}<{dollar} blends offered the best flame retarding properties, but CPE was incompatible with PVC at high loading levels, causing a decrease in the physical properties. Stronger smoke suppressants were required for {dollar}>{dollar}PVC + CPE{dollar}<{dollar} blends to prevent smoke suppression as compared to pPVC formulations. It was observed that loading of 50 phr of CPE did not impart significant flexibility to the compound.