Effect of Sb₂O₃ Modified by Various Surface Active Agents on Flame Retardant Properties of PVC Composite

Abstract

Sb2O3 powders were prepared by high energy ball milling using polyethyleneglycol-6000,sodium dodecyl sulfate and OP-10 to modify the surface properties of the powder. The influence of Sb2O3 powders modified by various surface active agents on flame retardant properties of PVC composite materials was studied. The phase composition, morphology and the average particle size of the powders were characterized by XRD and TEM. The particle distribution and flame retardant properties of Sb2O3/PVC composite materials were studied by EDS, limiting oxygen index instrument and vertical burning test. The results show that nanometer Sb2O3 has good dispersion in the PVC matrix because of the higher space steric effect of organic film on the surface of nanometer Sb2O3 when polyethyleneglycol-6000 was used as the surface active agent. While the content of nanometer Sb2O3 is 1.26% in the PVC composite material, the oxygen index of the composite material is 27.1% and the composite material reaches fire retardant grade. Using sodium dodecyl sulfate and OP-10 as surface dispersants, the surface of Sb2O3 powders can not be coated completely. The particle size of Sb2O3 powders are 100nm and 150nm, respectively, The Sb2O3 powders have poor dispersion in the PVC matrix, and even some agglomerating phenomena took place. The oxygen index of Sb2O3/PVC composite materials are 24.7% and 25.3%, respectively, containing 1.26% Sb2O3 powders in Sb2O3/PVC composite material. The materials don't achieve flame retardant level.

Keywords

• surface active agent
• Sb₂O₃
• PVC
• composite
• flame retardant property