Morphology control of zinc hydroxystannate microcapsules by sol–gel method and their enhanced flame retardancy properties for polyvinyl chloride composites

Abstract

The aluminum hydroxide (ATH)/zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS) microcapsule was firstly prepared via sol–gel processing technique, and then melamine-formaldehyde resin(MF)/aluminum hydroxide(ATH)/zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS) microcapsule was secondly prepared. Their structures were characterized by fourier–transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, scan electron microscopy and laser size distribution analysis techniques. The results indicated that the successful formed and controlled of ATH/ZHS and MF/ATH/ZHS microcapsules. In addition, the effect of these microcapsules on flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties of poly (vinyl chloride)(PVC) composites was evaluated. The results revealed that ATH/ZHS and MF/ATH/ZHS microcapsules had improved the flame retardancy, smoke suppression properties of PVC composites, which behaved as a very good flame retardant and smoke suppressant. The single layer and double layers microcapsules (ATH/ZHS microcapsule and MF/ATH/ZHS microcapsule) have been synthesized via sol–gel processing technique and their enhanced flame retardancy, smoke suppression properties for polyvinyl chloride composites.