Silane treated alumina trihydrate: A new formulating tool for flame retardant polyester fiber reinforced plastics

Abstract

AbstractThe high strength to weight ratio of glass reinforced plastics (FRF) combined with their fabrication flexibility has led to increasing use in new applications that no other materials could satisfy. FRF often replaces metals in traditional applications. Increasingly stringent flammability requirements have led to the use of alumina trihydrate filler, usually in combination with halogenated rosins. However, difficulties in compounding and fabrication often limit, the alumina trihydrate loading. This requires substantial increments of halogenated resin to meet specific flammability restrictions. In such composites, the price of the compound may be too high for a given application and one must often compromise substantially on both processing and physical property performance. Alumina trihydrate filled systems commonly suffer from poor glass fiber wet out and mold flow, with reduced strength and uniformity in fabricated parts. This paper describes how a unique silane pretreatment for alumina trihydrate permits bulk molding compound (BMC)/sheet molding compound (SMC) formulations to be developed with increased loadings of the filler, reduced filler wet out time, and improvements in glass dispersion, mold flow out, strength and uniformity of the composite. The paper also shows how the halogenated resin content of flame retarded systems may be minimized by the use of this silane treated alumina trihydrate.