Investigation of flame retardancy and physical–mechanical properties of zinc borate and aluminum hydroxide propylene composites

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of flame retardant fillers mixture, zinc borate and aluminum hydroxide, on polypropylene including various ratios of their accumulated concentrations, have been studied. Maleic anhydrate grafted polypropylene and calcium stearate have been used to increase filler–matrix interactions and filler dispersion in matrix. Effects of filler types and their concentrations on fire resistibility of different composite samples have been determined via limiting oxygen index test method. Effects of foregoing parameters on the mechanical properties of prepared samples were also investigated. Recorded data shows that adding polypropylene, containing aluminum anhydrate lump, increases composite’s physicomechanical properties. Although, it has a slightly negative impact on limiting oxygen index. Furthermore, obtained results exemplify that, comparison wise, blended mixture of the two flare retardants have the utmost effect on certain concentrations rather when applied separately.