Study on the flame retardancy of EVM/magnesium hydroxide composites optimized with a flame retardant containing phosphorus and silicon

A novel phosphorus‐silicon‐containing flame retardant, spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphorate disphosphoryl chloride/9, 10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphaphanthrene‐10‐oxide/vinyl methyl dimethoxysilane (SPDV), was synthesized successfully and used for optimizing the flame retardancy of ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer (EVM) rubber/magnesium hydroxide (MDH) composites. The microstructure of SPDV was characterized and determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that SPDV had good charring effect in air even at high temperature (800°C). The flame retardancy of the optimized EVM/MDH composites by SPDV was investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), cone calorimeter, and UL‐94 vertical burning tests. A higher LOI value (29.4%) and better UL‐94 rating (V‐0) can be achieved for the optimized EVM/MDH composite (EVM‐7) than EVM/MDH composite without SPDV (EVM‐3) with the total loading of additives. The HRR decreased and residual mass increased gradually as the loading of SPDV increased for the optimized EVM/MDH composites. There existed distinct synergistic intumescent flame‐retardant effect between SPDV and MDH in EVM matrix. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011