Preparation and properties of multilayer core-shell structure ammonium polyphosphate synergistic with THEIC for flame retardant LDPE

Abstract

In this paper, a new type of highly efficient intumescent flame-retardant low-density polyethylene composite was prepared using two key technologies, namely, microencapsulation encapsulation technology and novel carbon formation technology. Precisely, β-cyclodextrin encapsulated modified ammonium polyphosphate@melamine formaldehyde resin (β-CDMCAPP@MF) was prepared by using Si-IFR synergistic flame retardant effect combined with the gel-solution method, and then flame retardant low-density polyethylene (LDPE) was prepared by compounding with tris-(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanate (THEIC). The results showed that β-CDMCAPP@MF was modified with MF, β-CD, and silica coating. This modification resulted in excellent hydrophobicity and good compatibility with LDPE. The addition of IFR containing β-CDMCAPP@MF significantly improved the flame retardancy of the LDPE composites. Specifically, when 30 wt% of β-CDMCAPP@MF was added, the ultimate oxygen index of the composites reached 24.7 %, and V-0 grade and the tensile strength went 11.41 MPa. Compared with IFR/LDPE with the same proportion of MF@MCAPP and β-CD@MCAPP, the ultimate oxygen indices were increased by 9.72 % and 12.15 %, respectively. The introduction of THEIC into the flame retardant system resulted in a LOI value of 36.5 % and an FRI value of 2.523, which is 32.33 % higher than that of the composites containing 30 wt% of the flame retardant system (without THEIC). Cone calorimetry test results showed that introducing β-CDMCAPP@MF and THEIC significantly improved the smoke emission.