Thermal and flammability properties influenced by Zn/Al,Co/Al,and Ni/Al layered double hydroxide in low-density polyethylene nanocomposites

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) containing different metal constituents (Zn, Co, and Ni) was intercalated with different organic anions and has been used as fillers in low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and its thermal and flammability behavior was evaluated. The best thermal stability (∆T_0.5 = 21 °C) was obtained with the LDPE-Ni/Al-dodecyl sulfate (4 wt %) nanocomposite. Addition of hydrophobic LDHs systematically decreases the enthalpy of melting and crystallization compared to the neat polymer. In LDPE-Co/Al-dodecyl sulfate (2 wt %) nanocomposite, the melting and crystallization enthalpies declined by about 45 J/g, indicating a good interaction of the filler with the polymer matrix. A reduction of 20% of the flammability for the LDPE-Ni/Al-stearate (4 wt %) nanocomposite was obtained. On the other hand, Zn–Co LDH as filler in LDPE nanocomposite did not affect effectively the same property. In an innovative study, results indicate that different metal constituents and interlayer anion of LDH as filler can change thermal and flammability properties of the polymer nanocomposite. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48737.     

Viscoelastic and thermal properties of natural rubber low-density polyethylene composites with boric acid and borax

The influence of boric acid (BA) and borax (BO) neutron-absorbing fillers on thermal stability and viscoelastic behavior of natural rubber (NR) low-density polyethylene composites has been studied. The thermal degradation and dynamic mechanical properties of the composites have been analyzed as a function of temperature. The results revealed the enhancement of thermal stability of the composites by the addition of BA and BO fillers. The flame resistance of the material was improved by the addition of both the fillers. The storage modulus was found to be dependent upon the temperature and nature of the filler. The amount of NR chains immobilized by filler particles has been quantified from dynamic mechanical analysis and secondary filler/filler interactions have been verified by the Payne effect analysis. Finally, the experimental results have been compared with theoretical predictions.     

AHP/碱木质素聚氨酯泡沫的阻燃性能

对精制后的碱木质素进行羟甲基化改性,再利用改性后的羟甲基化碱木质素部分替代聚醚多元醇,采用一步发泡法与聚合MDI制备了羟甲基化木质素基聚氨酯泡沫材料。将次磷酸铝(AHP)作为阻燃剂添加到泡沫中制备了阻燃碱木质素聚氨酯泡沫,通过极限氧指数(LOI)测试分析了羟甲基化木质素基阻燃聚氨酯泡沫的阻燃性能。利用热重分析(TG)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)分别研究制得泡沫的热降解行为、成炭性能和残炭形貌。实验结果表明,当羟甲基化碱木质素替代聚醚多元醇的量为60%,次磷酸铝的添加量为30%时,碱木质素聚氨酯泡沫材料的极限氧指数(LOI)值达到了27.5%。因此,羟甲基化碱木质素和次磷酸铝使泡沫在燃烧时能更好的形成炭层,从而有效地隔绝空气,降低热传递,提高了材料的阻燃性能。     

Synthesis of a novel char-forming agent (PEIC): Improvement in flame retardancy,thermal stability,and smoke suppression for intumescent flame-retardant polypropylene composites

A novel char-forming agent named PEIC was designed and synthesized combining pentaerythritol octahydrogen tetraphosphate (PEPA) and tris(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate. PEIC was combined with the silica-gel-microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (OS-MCAPP), preparing intumescent flame-retardant polypropylene (PP) composites. The results of the limiting oxygen index (LOI) show that the composite containing 30 wt % IFR with OS-MCAPP:PEIC = 2:1 presents the optimal LOI of 32.7%. Meanwhile, the cone calorimeter tests show that its peak heat release rate is 432 kW m⁻², which decreases by 62.1% compared with that of pure PP, showing a high-efficient flame retardancy. The exhibited UL-94 V-0 rating for all the composites indicates that the IFR composed of PEIC and OS-MCAPP has high-efficient flame retardancy in PP. The analysis of residue char reveals that PEIC could improve the quality of char in compactness, intumescentia, and the degree of graphitization. Further, the effect of IFR on the mechanical properties of PP composites was also evaluated and discussed. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48296.     

聚磷酸铵与次磷酸铝的共微胶囊制备及其在阻燃聚丙烯中的应用

以三聚氰胺-甲醛树脂（MF）为囊材、聚磷酸铵（APP）和次磷酸铝（AHP）为芯材，制备出共微胶囊化阻燃剂M（A-A）。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱、扫描电子显微镜及溶解度测试等方法来表征MF的包覆效果；采用垂直燃烧测定仪、极限氧指数仪和锥形量热仪等设备考察M（A-A）对聚丙烯（PP）的阻燃效果；通过冲击和拉伸实验对复合材料的力学性能进行表征。结果表明，MF树脂成功包覆并有效提高了A-A的耐水性能；添加相同质量的M（A-A）和A-A，前者明显降低热释放速率（R_HRR）和总热释放量（H_THR），对PP的阻燃效果更好。添加阻燃剂后，复合材料的冲击强度先提高后降低，经过微胶囊化处理的阻燃剂对材料的拉伸性能损伤更小。     

Improving the flame retardancy of polypropylene foam with piperazine pyrophosphate via multilayering coextrusion of film/foam composites

A series of 16-layer polypropylene/flame retardant (PP/FR) film/foam composite structures were produced by microlayer coextrusion. A highly branched PP was used in the foam layers to increase strain hardening and cell stability, while the PP used in the film layers was a high shear viscosity grade to confine bubble growth. In addition to improved tensile properties, the PP/FR composite film/foams exhibited five times the compression modulus of PP/FR composite foams at each FR loading level. The thermal stabilities of the composites were investigated, exhibiting three step decompositions. The FR particles were effective in decreasing flammability by forming intumescent char. The PP/FR-film/foam-20 showed self-extinguishing behavior in a modified vertical burn test, while the PP/FR-foam-20 sample continued to burn. Cone calorimetry demonstrated that PP/FR film/foams had lower heat release than PP/FR foams due to the unique alternating film/foam structure of PP/FR film/foams. Scanning electron microscopy imaging of the residual chars from fire testing that the PP/FR composite film/foams showed a more continuous protective char surface when compared with PP/FR composite foams at each FR concentration. The combined data indicate that the formation of a surface film on top of a foam ensures a robust intumescent fire protective barrier for partly foamed materials and shows a new way toward lightweight materials with improved fire safety performance. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48552.     

Flame extension and the near field under the ceiling for travelling fires inside large compartments

Structures need to be designed to maintain their stability in the event of a fire. The travelling fire methodology (TFM) defines the thermal boundary condition for structural design of large compartments of fires that do not flashover, considering near field and far field regions. TFM assumes a near field temperature of 1200°C, where the flame is impinging on the ceiling without any extension and gives the temperature of the hot gases in the far field from Alpert correlations. This paper revisits the near field assumptions of the TFM and, for the first time, includes horizontal flame extension under the ceiling, which affects the heating exposure of the structural members thus their load-bearing capacity. It also formulates the thermal boundary condition in terms of heat flux rather than in terms of temperature as it is used in TFM, which allows for a more formal treatment of heat transfer. The Hasemi, Wakamatsu, and Lattimer models of heat flux from flame are investigated for the near field. The methodology is applied to an open-plan generic office compartment with a floor area of 960 m² and 3.60 m high with concrete and with protected and unprotected steel structural members. The near field length with flame extension (fTFM) is found to be between 1.5 and 6.5 times longer than without flame extension. The duration of the exposure to peak heat flux depends on the flame length, which is 53 min for fTFM compared with 17 min for TFM, in the case of a slow 5% floor area fire. The peak heat flux is from 112 to 236 kW/m² for the majority of fire sizes using the Wakamatsu model and from 80 to 120 kW/m² for the Hasemi and Lattimer models, compared with 215 to 228 kW/m² for TFM. The results show that for all cases, TFM results in higher structural temperatures compared with different fTFM models (600°C for concrete rebar and 800°C for protected steel beam), except for the Wakamatsu model that for small fires, leads to approximately 20% higher temperatures than TFM. These findings mitigate the uncertainty around the TFM near field model and confirm that it is conservative for calculation of the thermal load on structures. This study contributes to the creation of design tools for better structural fire engineering.     

铝空气电池废电解液生产超细氢氧化铝工艺条件研究

以铝空气电池的废电解液为原料, 采用种分法生产氢氧化铝。结果表明, 当种分时间为24 h、晶种系数为2%~4%时, 可生产出超细氢氧化铝, 且粒径分布宽度窄, 阻燃性能优良, 达到HG/T4530-2013氢氧化铝阻燃剂ATH-1一等品的要求。     

铜渣尾矿制备空心陶瓷微球及其表征

以铜渣尾矿为原料, 利用火焰喷枪熔射法制备空心陶瓷微球, 研究了淬熄距离对陶瓷微球形貌与性能的影响。结果表明, 淬熄距离为400 mm时, 制成的微球粒径分布均匀,直径15~30 μm, 经破碎确认为空心球。成球机理是铜渣尾矿粉末受热逐渐熔化过程中, 发气物质产生气体并合并, 当高温液滴喷射进入水中快速冷却凝固时, 液滴中气体无法逸出, 从而形成空心陶瓷微球。     

Polydimethylsiloxane wrapped aluminum diethylphosphinate for enhancing the flame retardancy of polyamide 6

Aluminum diethylphosphinate (ADP) was wrapped with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by a facile method to improve its hydrophobic properties. The morphology and properties of PDMS-modified ADP (PDMS-ADP) were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and water contact angle tests. The water contact angle of PDMS-ADP was increased from 126° to 151° as compared with that of ADP, which indicates that PDMS-ADP showed good hydrophobic properties. Then, ADP and PDMS-ADP were introduced into polyamide 6 (PA6) matrices to study the flame retardancy of the composites. The flammability of the PA6/ADP and PA6/PDMS-ADP composites was much lower than that of pure PA6. The composites PA6-1 (with the addition of 15 wt% ADP) and PA6-4 (with the addition of 12 wt% PDMS-ADP) could pass the UL-94 V-0 in the vertical burning test. Meanwhile, the peak heat release rates of PA6-1 and PA6-4 were 212 and 192 kW/m², with reductions of 67.3 and 70.4%, respectively, compared with pure PA6. These results indicated that the coating of PDMS could enhance the flame-retardant efficiency of ADP.