Preparation and Antiflame Performance of Expandable Graphite Modified with Sodium Hexametaphosphate

A kind of polyphosphate modified expandable graphite (EGp) was prepared in graphite oxidation and intercalation reaction with KMnO4 as oxidant, H2SO4 as intercalator, and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as assistant intercalator. The feasible mass ratio of C : KMnO4 : H2SO4 (98%) : SHMP was determined as 1.0 : 0.3 : 4.5 : 0.6, H2SO4 was diluted to 77 wt% before intercalation reaction, and the reaction lasted for 40 min at 40°C. Expanded volume and initial expansion temperature of the prepared EGp reached 600 mL/g (at 800°C) and 151°C, respectively. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy testified the intercalation and layer structure of EGp, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy illuminated the intercalated functional groups. Flame retardance of the prepared EGp and the referenced EG (with only H2SO4 as intercalator) for linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) was also investigated. Addition of 30 wt% EGp to the polymer improved the limiting oxygen index (LOI) from 17.5 to 27.3%. On the other hand, the LOI of the same amount of the referenced EG was only 24.6%. Assistant intercalation of SHMP improved the dilatability and flame retardancy