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A polycarbonate/magnesium oxide nanocomposite with high flame retardancy
Author(s) -
Dong Quanxiao,
Gao Chong,
Ding Yanfen,
Wang Feng,
Wen Bin,
Zhang Shimin,
Wang Tongxin,
Yang Mingshu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.34574
Subject(s) - thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , nanocomposite , magnesium , polycarbonate , thermal stability , activation energy , fire retardant , composite material , compounding , oxide , kinetics , composite number , degradation (telecommunications) , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , telecommunications , physics , quantum mechanics , computer science , engineering
A new flame retardant polycarbonate/magnesium oxide (PC/MgO) nanocomposite, with high flame retardancy was developed by melt compounding. The effect of MgO to the flame retardancy, thermal property, and thermal degradation kinetics were investigated. Limited oxygen index (LOI) test revealed that a little amount of MgO (2 wt %) led to significant enhancement (LOI = 36.8) in flame retardancy. Thermogravimetric analysis results demonstrated that the onset temperature of degradation and temperature of maximum degradation rate decreased in both air and N 2 atmosphere. Apparent activation energy was estimated via Flynn–Wall–Ozawa method. Three steps in the thermal degradation kinetics were observed after incorporation of MgO into the matrix and the additive raised activation energies of the composite in the full range except the initial stage. It was interpreted that the flame retardancy of PC was influenced by MgO through the following two aspects: on the one hand, MgO catalyzed the thermal‐oxidative degradation and accelerated a thermal protection/mass loss barrier at burning surface; on the other hand, the filler decreased activation energies in the initial step and improved thermal stability in the final period. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011