Composites of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymers with modified magnesium hydroxide–thermo‐oxidative ageing

Abstract

AbstractFlame retardant composites must perform their protective roles permanently, also under conditions of intermittent or long‐term exposure to sunlight, moisture or increased temperature. The aim of our work was characterization of the thermo‐oxidative ageing (90 °C) and the changes in flammability of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer composites with 40 and 60 wt.% of magnesium hydroxide. The neat polymer and its composites were investigated for their thermal (DSC) and structural (FTIR) characteristics as well as their density, melt flow index, tensile properties and combustibility during ageing test. As FTIR results identified the different carbonyl groups in copolymer were created, the highest oxidation intensity was observed for neat copolymer. That process was accompanied by the scission of the polymer macromolecules, especially for first 700 h of thermal ageing. Thermo‐oxidative ageing resulted also in the reduction of flammability of the test materials. The highest reduction was observed for neat polymer. The changes in some properties as analysed both for the copolymer and for its composites after over 700 h of ageing were indicative for initiation of cross‐linking of copolymer molecules after that time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.