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Zirconium-based compounds are combined with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) to prepare flame retardant high density polyethylene composites.

In this study, two layered double hydroxides (LDHs), ZnAl-LDH, and MgAl-LDH, were combined with intumescent flame retardant (IFR) consisting of ammonium polyphosphate and tris (2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanurate to prepare flame retardant high density polyethylene composites. The thermal and flame retardant properties of these composites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, limiting oxygen index measurement, and cone calorimetry, while the morphology and chemical structure of the char residue were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, and laser Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of both HD/IFR/Zn-LDH and HD/IFR/Mg-LDH composites was 52.0% and 12.0% lower than that of HD and HD/IFR, respectively, suggesting that there was no difference in the reduction of PHRR between the two LDHs. The use of LDHs resulted in the formation of compact char residue with a high graphitic degree, but no significant increase in tensile strength.

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In this study, we incorporated commercially available p‐toluene sulfonic acid coated boehmite nanofillers (commercially known as OS1) into the chitosan (CS) matrix to fabricate CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes with a high proton conductivity for fuel‐cell applications. These nanocomposite membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their mechanical properties, water uptake, ion‐exchange capacity, and proton conductivity were also determined. The results show that the incorporation of OS1 to CS chains can inhibit the mobility of CS chains and, hence, enhance the thermal stability and mechanical properties of CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes. The composite membrane with 5 wt % OS1 showed a proton conductivity of 0.032 S/cm; this was almost equal to that of commercially available Nafion 117. We concluded that CS–OS1 nanocomposite membranes have potential for fuel‐cell applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46904.

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This study represents the first attempt to prepare a novel cardanol-based plasticizer. Modified cardanol (MC, i.e., phosphorylated cardanol) containing nitrogen and phosphoric acid groups was synthesized and then incorporated into polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the secondary plasticizer for partial substitution of dioctyl phthalate (DOP). The molecular structure of MC was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and 31 P NMR spectroscopy. The thermal degradation behavior, mechanical performance, and compatibility of MC were also investigated. The substitution of DOP with MC enables PVC blends to have higher thermal stability, tensile strength, and leaching resistance. The tensile strength is increased from 17.7 MPa for DOP/PVC blend (MC-0) to 25.7 MPa for MC/PVC blend (MC-4), and the elongation at break is increased from 256 to 432%, respectively. The microstructure of the tensile fractured surface was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the addition of MC allows PVC blends to have well-balanced properties of flexibility and strength and excellent migration resistance.