Selection Chart of Flame Retardants for Natural Fiber Polymer Composites

Increasing the share of natural fiber thermoplastic composites NFTC in the market of engineering market demand to guarantee flame retardant properties. On the other side, addition of flame retardants FRs affects the mechanical properties negatively specially the whole tensile strength. Polypropylene PP reinforced with 30% natural fibers (flax, jute, hemp and sisal) are prepared using kneading and different FRs are mixed together. The effect of the different FRs on the flame retardance level, namely UL94, as well as the mechanical properties are studied. Hence, a selection chart for FRs is established. The studied FRs materials in this work are mineral, halogenated, halogen-free intumescent. Also, the effect of synergism with nanoclays and antimony tri oxide is considered. As a result of this experimental work regarding both the mechanical properties and the flame retardance levels, a material selection chart is built considering the tensile strength and flame retardance test UL94. This chart is enriched by other literature results. Also, the concept of this chart can be extended to deal with another mechanical property or another flame retardance test.