Flame Retardancy Behaviors and Structural Properties of Polypropylene/Nano-SiO2 Composite Textile Filaments

The number of efforts about modifying the properties of polymeric fibers by organic or inorganic particles has increased recently because of high-tech applications of textiles. In addition to these attempts, the discovery of nanotechnology also leads to the development of. nanoparticles for various end uses such as nanocomposite fibers. In this article, we aimed to produce slow burning or flame retardant polypropylene filaments for carpet pile yarns by incorporating SiO2 nanoparticles into polymer. Therefore, we present the preparation of filaments incorporating 0.3, 1, and 3% SiO2 nanoparticles and investigate the effects of nanoparticles on the flame retardancy and structural behavior of filaments. Polypropylene and nanoparticles were compounded by melt-compounding using twin-screw extruder before spinning. Filaments with trilobal cross Sections Were spun using pilot melt spinning equipment. The structural properties of nanocomposite fibers were analyzed using X-ray difractometry, differential scanning calorymetry, scanning electron microscopy, and tensile tests. The flammability behaviors of filaments were evaluated using the oxygen index method. The effect of nanoparticles on structural properties and flame retardancy behaviors of filaments were summarized and discussed. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 111: 2085-2091, 2009