Applications of Aluminum Hydroxide Flame Retardants (Part II)

(3) Applications in Polybutylene Terephthalate

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) engineering plastic is a new type of material for both consumer and industrial applications. It is primarily used in electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, automotive, and other fields.

(1) Nano-aluminum hydroxide flame retardant is applied as a flame retardant in PBT resin.

(2) As the dosage of nano-aluminum hydroxide increases, the tensile strength, impact strength, and elongation at break of the PBT composite system first increase and then decrease. That is, at lower dosages, the nano-aluminum hydroxide flame retardant exhibits a toughening and reinforcing effect on the composite system.

(3) For PBT systems, nano-aluminum hydroxide flame retardant inhibits polymer decomposition and promotes char formation, demonstrating effective flame retardancy. To optimize its flame-retardant performance, selecting suitable synergists is recommended to suppress the negative effects of its decomposition products.

(IV) Application in Polyethylene

Polyethylene (PE) is a lightweight, non-toxic thermoplastic material with excellent electrical insulation and chemical resistance, finding broad applications. However, due to the non-polar nature of PE resin, it exhibits poor compatibility with high-dose inorganic flame retardant ATH. While simple blending may enhance certain properties, it significantly degrades mechanical performance, failing to meet practical application requirements. To address these limitations, aluminum hydroxide flame retardants can be modified and treated.

(1) Incorporating flame retardant synergists. This approach enhances flame retardancy while reducing the required amount of flame retardant. It effectively suppresses material dripping during combustion and exhibits synergistic effects with aluminum hydroxide flame retardant, thereby improving material mechanical properties. Common synergists include: organosilicon compounds, red phosphorus and phosphorus compounds, zinc borate, and metal oxides.

(2) Improving compatibility between aluminum hydroxide flame retardant and the resin matrix. This is achieved by treating inorganic particles with coupling agents or surfactants, or by grafting the matrix resin.