Flame-Retardant Olefin Block Copolymer Composites with Novel Halogen-Free Intumescent Flame Retardants Based on the Composition of Melamine Phosphate and Pentaerythritol

A series of halogen-free intumescent flame retardants (IFR) based on home-made melamine phosphate and pentaerythritol system (MPPER) including polyamid 12, basic nickel carbonate (NiCO(3)2Ni(OH)(2)4H(2)O), lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and expandable graphite compounding with MPPER, were adopted for flame retarding olefin block copolymers (OBC). Flame-retardant effects and thermal stabilities of OBC-IFR composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index, vertical burning test (UL-94), and thermogravimetry analysis along with the analysis of morphological structures of the char residue by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties and the flame-retardant mechanism of the final composited materials have been also discussed. The loading of suitable amount of IFR can improve effectively the flame retardancy of the OBC with tolerable decrease in mechanical properties. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40066.