Development of Fire Retardant Thermoplastic Elastomer Composites with Improved Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) composites are elastomeric and recyclable. TPVs found numerous application in automobile industry, cables and wire insulation and floor covering etc. However TPVs are highly flammable material. Flame retardant TPV composites are developed by adding fillers which result in decrease in mechanical properties. Present work aims to develop EPDM-PP based TPV flame retardant nanocomposites with improved mechanical properties. Firstly, MWCNTs are modified with tannic acid by non-covalent functionalization characterized by FTIR, XRD and Raman analyses. The peaks in the region 1750-700 cm-1 in FTIR along with increase in ID/IG ratios in Raman spectra and broadening in XRD spectra of TA-MWCNTs confirm its modifications. After modification EPDM-PP based TPV nanocomposites are developed by melt blending in internal mixer. Synergistic effect of TA-MWCNTs and organically modified nanoclay studied to increase flame retardancy. Flame retardancy of TPV nanocomposite is tested through UL-94 results show that flame retardancy improved as amount of filler increased. The FRTPV7 sample contain 1Phr of MWCNTs and 10phr of organically modified clay show high flame retardancy and get V-1 rating in UL-94 flammability test.