Flame-Retardant Nanocomposite Polymeric Materials Based on High-Density Polyethylene and Aluminum Hydroxide Nanoparticles

Organo-inorganic nanocomposite materials based on high-density polyethylene and inorganic ecologically safe flame-retardant aluminum hydroxide have been prepared via the fundamental strategy of crazing of polymers. The protocols providing efficient introduction of aluminum salt as a precursor into the mesoporous polymeric matrices have been elaborated, and optimal conditions of in situ hydrolysis of the aluminum salt in confined space of mesopores have been found. The hydrolysis has resulted in the aluminum salt conversion into aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles with unimodal size distribution, uniformly distributed within the polymer matrix. The obtained HDPE-based nanocomposite materials with low content of aluminum hydroxide (below 30 wt %) have revealed low flammability and high mechanical characteristics.

Automated summary

In this study, organo-inorganic nanocomposite materials based on high-density polyethylene and inorganic ecologically safe flame-retardant aluminum hydroxide were prepared. The strategy of crazing of polymers was used to modify the polymer matrix, and aluminum salt was efficiently introduced as a precursor into the mesoporous structure. The in situ hydrolysis of the aluminum salt in the confined space of mesopores resulted in the formation of uniformly distributed aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles. The obtained HDPE-based nanocomposite materials showed low flammability and high mechanical characteristics.