MODIFICATION OF FLAME-RETARDANT POLYMER M ATERIALS BY RUBBERS AND THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMERS

The effect of high molecular weight fire retardants (brominated polyst yrene and brominated polyphenylene oxides) on the impact resistance of polystyrene plastics and the effect of phosphorus-containing foaming systems on mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP) are studied. Th e introduction of fire retardants in a material is shown to worsen mar kedly its mechanical properties. The influence of thermoplastic elasto mers and rubbers on the flammability and mechanical properties of flam e-retardant polymer materials is studied. Modification of polymer mate rials is found to improve significantly mechanical properties, the eff ect of modifiers on the flammability being different in dependence of the composition of the polymer blend. For the systems under study mech anism of the interaction between the thermoplastic elastomer and polym er materials is discussed.