Effects of zinc borate and microcapsulated red phosphorus on mechanical properties and flame retardancy of polypropylene/magnesium hydroxide composites

In this paper, the mechanical properties and flame retardancy of zinc borate (ZB) and microcapsulated red phosphorus (MRP) with modified magnesium hydroxide (MH) in flame-retardant polypropylene (PP) were studied by mechanical properties test, UL-94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The crystallization behaviors of the composites were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). The addition of ZB could improve tensile strength and elongation at break of PP/MH composite. The MRP powders had a little effect on the mechanical properties of the PP composites. DSC results showed the addition of ZB and MRP weakened the heterogeneous nucleation effect of MH on PP. The addition of ZB and MRP had a great effect on the flammability of the PP/MH/EG composites. The thermal stability of PP/MH/ZB and PP/MH/ZB/MRP composites was better than that of PP/MH composite.