The needle-like Al2O3–ZnO nanowire hybrid filler endows polymer composites with high thermal conductivity, mechanical and thermal properties.

No abstract

Expandable graphite (EG), aluminum (diethyl)polyphosphinate (AlPi) and melamine polyphophate (MPP) was used as flame retardant multi-material additive in a polyamide 6 (PA6) matrix. Flame inhabitation performances were conducted by cone calorimeter, LOI and UL-94 tests, synergisms identified analyzed by TGA-FTIR and TGA-GC/MS and effects found were comprehensively discussed. SEM images were used for char residue characterization. For PA6 containing 20 wt.% EG and 5 wt.% AlPi/MPP (3:2), a well working synergism in limiting oxygen indices could be identified exhibiting the highest oxygen index (OI) measured: 46%. The study shows that the synergism due to the partial substitution of EG by AlPi/MPP can be attributed to two effects: (1) When PA6/AlPi/MPP mixtures decompose predominantly CO2 evaporates in early decomposition stages. CO2 evaporations was found to be sensitive to the heating rate applied, whereas specifically high heating rates increased the CO2 yield measured. (2) Solid decomposition products of AlPi/MPP act as “glue” between expanded graphite and thus increase the mechanical residue stability.

A new expandable graphite (EG) type was studied as a flame retardant additive in Polyamide 6 (PA6). The fire behavior was characterized by a cone calorimeter using external heat fluxes of 35, 50 and 65 kW/m2, limiting the oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 burning tests. Additionally, electric and thermal conductivity as well as rheological properties were characterized to provide a general property overview. Fire tests were conducted using dry and humid conditioned samples. Cone Calorimeter tests showed a minimum filling degree of 15 wt.% (8.6 vol.%) EG was required to achieve a significant fire inhibiting effect in PA6 independent of the sample condition. UL-94 fire tests show a V0 classification at filling degrees greater than 20 wt.% (humid) and 25 wt.% (dry), although the associated LOI values of 39% and 38% demonstrate good flammability inhibition. Correlation analyses were conducted to identify major influences given by the sample condition for most important key figures measured in cone calorimeter tests. Accordingly, humid-conditioned samples containing between 2.5 (PA6 + 25 wt.% EG) and 4.2 wt.% (PA6) water were found to reduce the total heat evolved (THE) on average by 16% and the total smoke production (TSP) on average by 22%.

To solve the problem of excessive heat accumulation in the electronic packaging field, a novel series of hybrid filler (BN@CNT) with a hierarchical “line-plane” structure was assembled via a condensation reaction between functional boron nitride(f-BN) and acid treated carbon nanotubes (a-CNTs). The reactions with different mass ratios of BN and CNTs and the effect of the obtained hybrid filler on the composites’ thermal conductivity were studied. According to the results, BN@15CNT exhibited better effects on promoting thermal conductivity of polybenzoxazine(PBz) composites which were prepared via ball milling and hot compression. The thermally conductive coefficient value of PBz composites, which were loaded with 25 wt% of BN@15CNT hybrid fillers, reached 0.794 W· m−1· K−1. The coefficient value was improved to 0.865 W· m−1· K−1 with 15 wt% of BN@15CNT and 10 wt% of BN. Although CNTs were adopted, the PBz composites maintained insulation. Dielectric properties and thermal stability of the composites were also studied. In addition, different thermal conduction models were used to manifest the mechanism of BN@CNT hybrid fillers in enhancing thermal conductivity of PBz composites.