The incorporation of modified Sb2O3 and DBDPE: A new member of high solar-reflective particles and their simultaneous application in next-generation multifunctional cool material with improved flame retardancy and lower wetting behaviour

Abstract

A new finding is proposed that antimony oxides (Sb2O3) and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) can be both used as solar-reflective particles to develop cool materials. Therefore, the incorporation of Sb2O3 and DBDPE performs as one promising strategy to create cool materials instead of widely-used titanium dioxide (TiO2) for their intrinsic flame retardancy. In this study, the reflectance performance of Sb2O3 and DBDPE into polymer matrix has been investigated, accompanied with the investigation of the effect of hydrophobic surface modification on Sb2O3 on the material surface wettability. With the simultaneous addition of 5 wt% modified Sb2O3 and 15 wt% DBDPE and 1 wt% anti-dripping agent (ADP), the material possesses a reflectance of 86.1% throughout the visible (VIS) light region and 72.9% throughout the near infrared light (NIR) region. The high reflectance leads to a maximum temperature decrease of about 31.5 °C in the indoor temperature test and a decrease of about 14 °C under natural condition, in comparison with glass sample. Simultaneously, the limiting oxide index (LOI) value of the material significantly enhances to 28%, accompanied with V-0 rating achieved in UL-94 test. Also, the material surface successfully converts from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, where the water contact angle increases from 87° to 101°.