Nanosized carbon black as synergist in PP/POE-MA/IFR system for simultaneously improving thermal, electrical and mechanical properties

Xin Wen,Xuecheng Chen,Karolina Szymańska,Ewa Mijowska

doi:10.1007/s10973-019-08466-4

Abstract

Nanosized carbon black (CB) was introduced into polypropylene/maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin elastomer/intumescent flame retardant (PP/POE-MA/IFR) system to investigate the effect of nanofiller as synergist on thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of polymer composites. With 5 mass% CB into PP/POE-MA/IFR system (POFC5), the Tmax (corresponded to the temperature at the maximum mass loss rate) under air was increased by 122.4 °C; its limited oxygen index was as high as 31.4%; its vertical burning rating (UL-94) reached V0, and the peak value of heat release rate was decreased to only 19% of neat PP in cone calorimeter testing. Moreover, PP composites exhibited good electrical conductivity with more than 1.6 mass% CB, which is a low loading level to reach the critical percolation concentration. In addition, a good balance on stiffness and toughness of PP composites was achieved; especially, Young’s moduli and impact strength of POFC5 were increased to 1.26 and 2.5 times in comparison with that of neat PP, respectively. These results indicated that CB was an effective synergist in multi-component PP composites to simultaneously improve thermal, electrical and mechanical properties.

Highlights

Polypropylene (PP), as one of the largely produced and consumed polymer materials, has broad applications in cars, furniture, insulation and architectural materials [1, 2]
With 5 mass% carbon black (CB) into PP/POE-MA/Intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) system (POFC5), the the maximum rate of mass loss (Tmax) under air was increased by 122.4 °C; its limited oxygen index was as high as 31.4%; its vertical burning rating (UL-94) reached V0, and the peak value of heat release rate was decreased to only 19% of neat PP in cone calorimeter testing
To evaluate the thermal stability of polymer materials, another important characteristic parameter is the temperature corresponding to the maximum rate of mass loss (Tmax), which is defined as the peak value of the first derivative Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve as a function of temperature

Summary

Introduction

Polypropylene (PP), as one of the largely produced and consumed polymer materials, has broad applications in cars, furniture, insulation and architectural materials [1, 2]. Abstract Nanosized carbon black (CB) was introduced into polypropylene/maleic anhydride-grafted polyolefin elastomer/intumescent flame retardant (PP/POE-MA/IFR) system to investigate the effect of nanofiller as synergist on thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of polymer composites. These results indicated that CB was an effective synergist in multi-component PP composites to simultaneously improve thermal, electrical and mechanical properties.

Results

Conclusion