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What are the Main Types of Flame Retardant Additives for Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is soft in nature and is widely used in many utensils. However, its nature is flammable, and it is difficult to burn the flame in case of fire. Therefore, people mostly apply flame retardant additives to increase its safety. There are many types of flame retardant additives, and there are mainly several used for polyethylene. First, halogens, especially bromine and chlorine, are commonly used. This kind of material is taken from organic molecules, and when burned, halogen atoms are released, trapping free radicals, breaking the chain of combustion, and the effect is obvious. However, its smoke and corrosion, or environmental concerns, are often replaced by environmentally friendly methods in this world.
Second, phosphorus-based flame retardants include both organic phosphorus and inorganic phosphorus, such as phosphates and phosphate esters. These additives precipitate phosphoric acid at high temperatures to form a carbon layer, which coats the surface of polyethylene, isolates oxygen and heat sources, and has the dual flame retardant function of gas phase and condensed matter. Of the three, nitrogen-based additives, especially melamine and its derivatives, are known for their ability to generate non-combustible gases with thermal decomposition products, dilute combustible gases, and cooperate with phosphorus elements to enhance the carbonization effect.
There are also inorganic metals, such as aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. This additive acts in a physical way to remove water from burning, absorb heat and cool down, dilute combustible gas, and generate metal oxides to contain fire. Although its dosage is large, it is safe and non-toxic, so it is highly respected when the demand for green environmental protection is becoming increasingly apparent.
In addition, nanomaterials such as nano-clays, carbon nanotubes, etc., although not traditional flame retardants, are added in small amounts to significantly improve the thermal stability and flame retardant properties of the material, and improve the mechanical properties of polyethylene. There are also co-effectors, plasticizers, etc., or main agents to increase work, or to extend the life of the material.
Overall, the flame retardant of polyethylene, with the help of many additives, or chemical, or physical, or dual-effect, has its own strengths. When selecting, it is important to consider its cost, performance and environmental impact, so that it can be used for a long time and avoid danger.
Do Flame Retardant Additives for Polyethylene Affect the Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is a commonly used polymer material with good lightness and toughness. It is a material widely used in modern industry and civil use. However, when it is used in wire and cable, construction, transportation and other fields, it needs to have flame retardant properties, so flame retardants are often added to meet safety standards. However, the addition of flame retardants does not affect the original properties of polyethylene, especially the mechanical properties.
Flame retardants are roughly divided into inorganic and organic categories. Inorganic flame retardants such as aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, etc., have large particle sizes and require high additions to significantly improve the flame retardant effect. It is difficult to disperse evenly in polyethylene, often resulting in loose internal structure of the material and weakened interfacial bonding force. As a result, tensile strength and impact toughness have decreased. Although the amount of organophosphorus and halogen flame retardants is relatively low, some varieties are prone to release acidic gases or decomposition products during processing, accelerating the degradation of molecular chains, and also affecting their tensile and bending properties.
More flame retardants have different compatibility with polyethylene matrices. If there is no good interface layer, micro-cracks will form at the interface, and the performance will deteriorate for a long time. When high filling, the movement of polyethylene molecular chains is limited, and both plasticity and ductility are reduced. If the flame retardant is a powder, it is easy to induce stress concentration between particles, resulting in a decrease in elongation at break. Some flame retardants may also affect the electrical properties and long-term mechanical stability of materials due to their strong hygroscopicity.
With the development of science and technology, composite flame retardants have come into being, supplemented by surface modification technology or nanoparticle dispersion assistance, which can reduce the loss of mechanical properties to a certain extent. However, compared with native polyethylene, most of the mechanical properties without flame retardants are still lagging behind. The only balance between flame retardant and mechanics is the essence of material design.
To sum up, after adding flame retardants to polyethylene, its mechanical properties mostly decrease, depending on the type, dosage, dispersion status and interface treatment of flame retardants. To achieve both safety and practicality, it is necessary to weigh the advantages and disadvantages and choose the best process and formula to balance its performance.
What is the typical amount of Flame Retardant Additives for Polyethylene?
Polyethylene is the leader of many polymer materials and is widely used in packaging, cables and pipelines. However, it is self-flammable and generates smoke in case of fire, which is not only dangerous to safety but also harmful to the environment. It is often added with flame retardants in the world in order to improve its fire resistance. There are many types of flame retardants, both organic and inorganic. If it is commonly used, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, bromine, phosphorus, and nitrogen are respected by the world. The amount of its addition should also depend on the nature of the flame retardant, the required flame retardant grade, the use of the product and the processing technology.
With aluminum hydroxide, its principle is to decompose water at high temperature, absorb heat for cooling, and dilute the burning area, which can effectively slow down the fire. However, its physical flame retardant effect depends on the dosage, so it often requires high addition. Its addition ratio is more than 30 to 60 parts by mass, and in some cases it is even as high as 70. Compared with bromine and phosphorus, its toxicity is small and the smoke density is low, which is especially suitable for occasions that pay attention to environmental protection and safety.
Brominated flame retardants such as decabromodiphenylethane and brominated cyclohexane are often shared with synergistic agents (such as antimony trioxide). The mechanism of action of brominated flame retardants is the capture of free radicals, which can effectively terminate the combustion chain reaction. The amount of brominated flame retardants is relatively moderate, mostly in the ratio of ten to twenty-five mass parts, supplemented by two to five synergistic agents, which can achieve higher flame retardant grades, such as UL94 V-0. Phosphorus-based flame retardants such as organophosphorus and ammonium polyphosphate are also used in dosages between ten and twenty-five. The volatility and toxicity of these two are higher than that of aluminum hydroxide, but the flame retardant efficiency is also high.
Nitrogen-based flame retardants such as melamine have a good synergy effect with phosphorus-based compatibility. The dosage is adjusted according to the specific formula and target performance, and the dosage is mostly in the ratio of five to fif
In short, the amount of flame retardant used in polyethylene is limited by the nature of the flame retardant, and it is also necessary to take into account the performance, appearance and economy of the product. It is necessary to create a proper balance when the amount of flame retardant added is high. If you want to obtain accurate data, you should use experiments as the basis, followed by theory, and carefully review the raw materials and uses to obtain the best ratio.
Do Flame Retardant Additives for Polyethylene Have an Environmental Impact?
Polyethylene is an OEM material with light weight, toughness, corrosion resistance, and is widely used in packaging and pipeline fields. However, it is flammable and burns quickly in case of fire, and the smoke and dust cover the eyes, endangering the public. Therefore, flame retardant additives are mostly mixed in to prevent fires. However, flame retardants have different properties, and their impact on the environment is controversial.
Flame retardant additives are generally divided into halogens, phosphorus series, nitrogen series and inorganic numbers. Halogens are flame retardant, mainly bromine and chlorine, which can effectively slow down fires. However, when they are burned or decomposed, more halogenated organics are generated, and microparticles are scattered in the air, causing air and water pollution. Halogenated substances remain in nature for a long time, difficult to dissolve and difficult to dissolve, both bioaccumulative, easy to enter the biological body, disturb endocrine, damage the original environment, and are very harmful. The European Union, America and other developed countries have explicitly restricted their use.
Phosphorus-based flame retardant, phosphoric acid or polyphosphoric acid precipitated during combustion, can promote the formation of carbonization layer, different from halogens, its degradation products are relatively low toxicity, but some categories are also suspected of carcinogenesis. Nitrogen-based flame retardant, mostly derived from light organic nitrides, can release ammonia or inorganic small molecules when burned, most of them are easily soluble in water, less toxic, and the environmental carrying capacity is acceptable.
Inorganic flame retardants, such as aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, precipitate water after combustion, absorb heat and dissolve, slow down temperature rise, and the residues are mostly harmless minerals, which are not very harmful to nature. However, it needs to be applied in high doses, or it may damage the mechanical properties of the base material, so it is necessary to weigh the weight when using it.
Cover flame retardant additives for polyethylene, the material has increased, and it also brings environmental concerns. In the process of production, application and waste, or with the escape of dust and sewage, it invades the empty water soil, and then enters the biological chain, endangering the group life. Today's environmental advocates advocate the implementation of green flame retardant, advocate low toxicity, easy degradation, and less residue in the ground, in order to benefit both humans and nature. In short, although flame retardant additives are required for polyethylene, their impact on the environment should not be ignored. Only when carefully selected and managed can we obtain the convenience of materials and avoid ecological concerns.
Flame Retardant Additives for Polyethylene How are they dispersed and mixed in polyethylene?
Mix flame retardant additions in polyethylene, and then disperse densely in the compatibility of fine particles. Polyethylene is not stable in the ground, and the molecules are soft. If the addition is not evenly distributed, it is easy to cause uneven performance and flame retardant effect, or physical damage. It is a method of hard work. First measure the ratio of materials, and then match the flame retardant particles, such as oxidizer, oxidizer or phosphorus, nitrogen compounds, etc. Then mix the machinery at high speed, so that the addition of polyethylene and lipid particles are mixed, and the particles are initially dispersed to obtain homogeneous polyethylene. In this stage, the degree of resistance is appropriate to prevent the addition of a base, polymerization, or loss, and the resistance of the addition itself, so as not to cause loss.
In the process of extrusion processing or densification, during the melting process, the force is cut to make the polyethylene flame retardant dense. The screw is rotated, and its force is like a water shock stone, which pushes the addition to the polymer melt, so that the particles are uniformly distributed in the molecular framework. The operating degree is essential, not only to ensure the complete plasticization of the polyethylene, but also to prevent the decomposition of the flame retardant. The high degree of non-resistance is required to prevent the degradation of the polyethylene and the physicalization of the flame retardant. It can be dispersed as appropriate to increase the flame retardant content and composition of the base. It is necessary to partially modify the flame retardant content to make the surface of the polyethylene more compatible and achieve the effect of micro-distribution. Or it can be used to disperse with super, surface active, etc.
The final product is formed, cured by cold, and its properties, flame retardant effect and force, and it is guaranteed that the additives have been embedded in the base. In this way, the flame retardancy of polyethylene and the physical properties of polyethylene are both good, which is ideal for application.