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Abstract

Silicon-based materials appear potentially to be attractive flame-retardants because of the protective coatings formed in fire, which decreases the rate of heat release. But few reports were presented about inorganic materials, such as SiO₂, Al₂O₃, used as additive flame-retardants. In this paper the degradation process of the intumescent system, polypropylene (PP)/Ammonium Polyphosphate (APP)-Pentaerythritol (PER), with and without SiO₂, Al₂O₃ or blend of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ was investigated by means of cone calorimetry, TGA, LOIs measured at ambient and elevated temperature (represented by a _t and TI, respectively). For PP/APP-PER system with the blend of SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ a maximal synergy was observed at the highest LOI of 35.5%, 17 units higher than the virgin PP. Its excellent flame-retardance was also evidenced by the highest residue char measured from TGA and parameters (MRL, PK-HRR, etc.) from Cone calorimetry.

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An Investigation on Synergism of an Intumescent Flame Retardant Based on Silica and Alumina

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