The flame‐retardance polylactide nanocomposites with nano attapulgite coated by resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate)

Abstract

The nano attapulgite (ATP) coated by flame‐retardant resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) was prepared, and the modification effects were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy plus energy dispersive spectrometer, Fourier‐transform infrared spectra, the contact angles, and thermal gravimetry analysis. The results showed that RDP was adsorbed and formed a uniform layer on the surface of nano ATP with a content of about 25 wt%. The prepared polylactide (PLA) nanocomposites with the RDP‐coated nano ATP showed good mechanical properties, and the tensile strength of the nanocomposites containing 30 wt% of the RDP‐coated nano ATP reached 76.9 MPa in comparison with 66.2 MPa of pure PLA. The limiting oxygen index of the prepared PLA composites containing 30 wt% of the RDP‐coated nano ATP was about 24.5% and V‐0 rating was attained compared with 20.5% and with no rating of pure PLA. After the burning of the flame‐retardant PLA composites, a compact and coherent charred layer was formed; the flame‐retardance mechanism is discussed in detail. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:506–513, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers