A New Flame-Retardant Epoxy Composites Based on Silica and Metal Salt of Phosphinate

Abstract

The influence of silica on the mechanical properties, thermal stability and the flammability of epoxy (EP) blended with aluminum methylethylphosphinate (Al (MEP) has been studied by the limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results show that adding silica enhances the mechanical properties of EP/Al (MEP). Synergistic effects between Al (MEP) and silica are obtained leading to the increase of LOI and to the reduction of combustion time. The TGA data demonstrate that silica can enhance the thermal stability of the EP/Al (MEP) and increase the char residue formation at high temperature. When the rice husk silica is substituted for silica, the composite presents lower LOI, lower thermal stability and char formation as well as inferior mechanical strength. The SEM results indicate that rice husk silica based composite shows poorer fillermatrix adhesion, which will be responsible for its inferior mechanical properties, lower thermal stability and flammability.