Flame retardancy, smoke suppression effect and mechanism of aryl phosphates in combination with magnesium hydroxide in polyamide 6

The flammability, smoke emission behavior and mechanical properties of two oligomeric aryl phosphates [bisphenol A bis(diphenyl phosphate) (BDP) and resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP)] combined with magnesium hydroxide (MH) in polyamide 6 (PA6) have been investigated. Combining 5 wt% BDP, 50 wt% MH imparts a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 40.9% and UL94 V-0 rating to PA6, meanwhile the peak rate of smoke release (pRSR), total release of smoke (TSR) and Izod notched impact strength are 41%, 33% and 233% relative to the corresponding value of 55 wt% MH without BDP, respectively. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicates that the improvement of toughness attributes to the enhanced compatibility between MH and PA6 by adding BDP. Furthermore, based on the comprehensive analysis of thermogravimetry (TG), cone calorimeter and SEM-EDX investigations, possible flame retardancy and smoke suppression mechanisms were revealed. Besides the fuel dilution and barrier effect of MH, the combination of MH and RDP shows an additional flame inhibition effect. The combination of MH and BDP results in a dominant condensed phase barrier effect which leads to obvious reduction on smoke emission and flammability.