Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) filled with metal phosphinates

Abstract

Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of poly(decamethylene terephthalamide) (PA10T) containing aluminum diethlyphosphinate (BEPAL) were investigated. The influence of BEPAL on the thermal degradation behavior of PA10T was studied using thermogravimetry, flammability test and chemical analysis. A decomposition model was given on the basis of Lewis acid-base interaction. The introduction of BEPAL led to reduced decomposition temperature, while the limiting oxygen index was greatly improved. The investigation of mechanical properties of PA10T/BEPAL composites indicated that the tensile strength firstly increased when low content BEPAL was added, then decreased with further increasing the concentration of BEPAL due to the agglomeration of filler particles. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results revealed that the presence of BEPAL hindered the movement of molecular chain.