An approach to the flame retardation and smoke suppression of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer by plasma grafting of acrylamide

Abstract

An attempt has been made in this study to render polymers flame retardant and smoke suppressors by a grafting method induced by plasma. Based on ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, it was found that the grafting yield was influenced by the plasma treatment conditions and the grafting reaction conditions when EVA copolymer was grafted with acrylamide. The flame retardation and smoke suppression of the grafted sample was characterized. It was found that the time to ignition of the grafted sample was extended. The limiting oxygen index and char residue were increased. This indicates that the –CONH 2 side group in the grafted layer cannot only be charred in the thermal degradation stage, but can also promote charring of the substrate polymer. The smoke density was lowered after EVA copolymer was grafted with acrylamide. The plasma grafting method cannot only make a polymer a flame retardant, but can also make it a smoke suppressor.