FIRE RESISTANCE AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF A HUNTITE HYDROMAGNESITE/ANTIMONY TRIOXIDE/DECABROMODIPHENYL OXIDE FILLED PP-PE COPOLYMER/

A natural mineral filler containing mainly huntite and hydromagnesite together with a blend of antimony trioxide (Sb2O3) and decabromodiphen yl oxide (DBDPO) was used to reduce the flammability of an ethylene-pr opylene copolymer. At the same time it was desirable to improve the st iffness of the copolymer without damaging its impact resistance even a t high filler content. All the components and the resulting composites were studied by differential thermal (DTA) and thermogravimetric anal ysis (TGA). Specific flammability tests and mechanical tests were also carried out on the composites. The influence of the mineral filter an d/or the Sb2O3/DBDPO blend on copolymer properties was investigated. T he best results were obtained by combining both of the main components to give 25% mineral filler and 20% Sb2O3/DBDPO blend. (C) 1996 Elsevi er Science Limited.