Ewa-Kicko Walczak
Institute for Engineering of Polymers Materials and Dyes, Poland
Title: Flame retardants nanocomposites: Synergy effect of combining conventional antypirenes with carbon nanofillers
Biography
Biography: Ewa-Kicko Walczak
Abstract
The thermoset resins are proven construction materials for the technical and highly demanding applications. Heat stability, high thermal, low shrinkage, mechanical properties are typical for their type of polymers. Above applications also requires a good flame retardant (FR). Undertaken activities refer to official draft recommendations in UE states. This paper presents positive effect of reduced flammability of thermoset resins thanks to the use of nanocomposites containing multi-ingredient halogen-free flame retardants which combine phosphorus/nitrogen modifiers interacting with nanofillers: Expandable graphite (EG), graphene (G), graphene oxide (GO) and anthracite (AN). The flame retardancy of modified polymers has been investigated by LOI analysis, TG and by using CC method. The fine-plates, phase morphology of nanocomposites were assessed by SEM. We confirm that nanocomposite formation is an important concept for the flame retardants industry. Laminates made of modified resins meet requirement LOI over 28-34% and reduced 30-70% head release rate (HRR) by CC method. No adverse impact on strength properties was observed. A multi-ingredient combination of FR turned out to make significant progress in achieving a desired flammability. It should be assumed that the presence of conventional flame retardants led to a synergy effect promoting faster formation of a protection layer hindering oxygen flow-through resulting from the process of thermal destruction