Basalt Fiber Modified Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Magnesium Hydroxide Composites with Balanced Flame Retardancy and Improved Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In this study, we selected basalt fiber (BF) as a functional filler to improve the mechanical properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)-based flame retardant materials. Firstly, BF was modified by grafting γ-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (KH550). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to comprehensively prove the successful modification of the BF surface. Subsequently, the modified BF was introduced into the EVA/magnesium hydroxide (MH) composites by melt blending. The limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94, cone calorimeter test, tensile test, and non-notched impact test were utilized to characterize both the flame retardant properties and mechanical properties of the EVA/MH composites. It was found that the mechanical properties were significantly enhanced without reducing the flame retardant properties of the EVA/MH composites. Notably, the surface treatment with silane is a simple and low-cost method for BF surface modification and the pathway designed in this study can be both practical and effective for polymer performance enhancement.

Basalt Fiber-Based Flame Retardant Epoxy Composites: Preparation, Thermal Properties, and Flame Retardancy

“…Before the basalt fiber was modified formally by silane, pretreatment to the fiber was carried out in this study in order to clean the surface. By referring to the previous studies [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ], four different pretreatment approaches were used to basalt fibers: 10 g basalt fibers were immersed in 200 mL acetone solution ultrasonic cleaning at 50 °C for 3 h, then the fibers were soaked in acetone for 21 h and dried for 48 h at 60 °C after the filtration. 10 g basalt fibers were immersed in 150 mL glacial acetic acid ultrasonic and cleaned at 50 °C for 3 h using sonication bath.…”

“…Before the basalt fiber was modified formally by silane, pretreatment to the fiber was carried out in this study in order to clean the surface. By referring to the previous studies [20][21][22][23], four different pretreatment approaches were used to basalt fibers:…”

Synthesis, mechanical, and flammability properties of metal hydroxide reinforced polymer composites: A review

“…Various studies are available in literature in which they suggested investigation on several inorganic materials to be applied as filler [77,78,[108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122] in a polymer and in some used both fibers and inorganic fillers combined. [123][124][125][126][127] In reference to this, mechanical properties such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, impact strength, and flexural strength of polymer composites filled with unmodified and/or modified magnesium hydroxide are reviewed. Furthermore, a summary of mechanical properties investigated in the literature is shown in Table 6.…”

Development of Trans-1,4-Polyisoprene Shape-Memory Polymer Composites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes Modified by Polydopamine

“…Conversely, the noncovalent modification conditions of organic polymer coatings is mild, making it an ideal modification method [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. In addition, previous research has shown that inorganic nanomaterials modified with organic polymers may improve the compatibility and interface interaction between the nanoparticles and the matrices, allowing them to achieve better performance, as compared to that of other common composite materials [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ].…”