IMPROVEMENT OF FLAME RETARDANCY IN PHENOLICS AND PAPER-SLUDGE PHENOLIC COMPOSITES/

Paper-sludge/phenolic composites were fabricated using a novolac-type phenolic resin and paper sludge. A phosphate flame retardant containin g halogen (tris 2-chloroethyl phosphate) and inorganic flame retardant (aluminum trihydroxide) were introduced into neat phenolics and paper- sludge/phenolic composite in order to improve their flame retardancy. In addition, magnesium hydroxide and halogenated flame retardant were added into the paper-sludge/phenolic composite. The flame retardancies were estimated with the UL 94 test. To study the flame retardant mech anism, thermal analysis of the phenolics and the paper-sludge/phenolic composites were carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer and a differential scanning calorimeter. The phosphated flame retardant and inorganic flame retardant both showed the flame retardant effect on th e phenolics. However, the flame retardancy of the paper-sludge/phenoli c composite was enhanced only by phosphated and halogenated flame reta rdants. This result is attributed to the fact that the flame retardanc ies of the phenolics and paper-sludge/phenolic composite depend on the ir heat capacities and decomposition behaviors. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.