Decabromobiphenyl oxide-aluminum hydroxide system as a flame retardant forstyrene-butadiene rubber

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was treated with decabromobiphenyl oxide (DB BO) and/or aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)(3)] as a flame retardant. The flammab ility of the resulting system was determined by the limiting oxygen index m ethod. The effect of the added flame retardants on the maximum torque (MH), curing rate, and tensile properties was also evaluated. The results showed , particularly, that DBBO was a more effective flame retardant than was AI( OH)(3). On the other hand, this brominated compound reduced the modulus of elasticity while its effect on the maximum torque was insignificant. Moreov er, the addition of DBBO was found to decrease the curing rate of SBR. In c ontrast, Al(OH)(3) significantly increased the maximum torque and also mark edly reduced the modulus of elasticity. Moreover, the effect of the treatme nt with Al(OH)(3) on the curing rate was found to be insignificant. The fla mmability measurement of the SBR treated with different mixtures of the two flame retardants indicated that the two compounds reacted slightly antagon istically. The addition of Al(OH)(3) to DBBO in a mixture that was applied to SBR remedied some negative impacts on the mechanical properties when DBB O was added separately to the rubber. The value of the maximum torque of SB R increased and the curing rate slightly increased as well. Meanwhile, the values of the modulus of elasticity were not affected. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.