An investigation into the decomposition and burning behaviour of Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer nanocomposite materials

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) is a widely used material, particularly as a zero-halogen material in the cable industry. It is frequently formulated with large quantities of inorganic filler material, such as aluminium trihydroxide (ATH). Used alone, EVA is known to form a protective layer which can inhibit combustion under well ventilated conditions, though this effect is not observed when used in formulations with ATH. The incorporation of nanoscale clay fillers into EVA appears to reinforce the protective layer. The stages of the decomposition under different conditions is described both for the 10 mg (TGA) and 200 mg (small tube furnace) scales. The latter allows the residues formed to be subjected to further analysis, to elucidate the mechanism of the reduction of decomposition and flammability. Enhancements in the thermo-oxidative stability of the EVA clay material were evident from both tube furnace and TGA experiments. The polymer-organoclay materials, prepared on a two-roll mill, showed poor dispersion when studied by SEM, suggesting that a significant portion was present as a microcomposite. However, when the char was analysed by SEM, layers of protective material were clearly evident on the char surface. From XRD spectra, there was no evidence of order within the polymer-organoclay, but ordering of the outer layer of char was demonstrated. This suggests that for EVA, which melts before burning, organoclay layers become nanodisperse at the surface of the burning polymer. These materials have also been studied in the Purser furnace, designed to replicate the conditions found in fully developed fires. This allows effluent yields, such as O-2, CO2 and CO to be determined as a function of fire condition, by controlling the rate of burning and the ventilation rate. The effect of both the nanofillers and the protective layers are reported and discussed, under different ventilation conditions. Specifically, the relationship between equivalence ratio and hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide yield is focussed upon. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.