Production of a polymeric composite material filled with halogen-free flame retardant

In the present study a composite material to be used in cable industry, which has LDPE/EVA (low density polyethylene/ ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) polymer blend and alumina trihydrate (ATH) filler, which is a halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR), has been formulated and characterized in terms of its mechanical, rheological and flame retardant properties comparing with the commercial mixtures. Composite blends having 40% polymer component with various PE/EVA ratio and two PE type and 60% ATH were prepared. As the EVA content of composites increased from 26% to 65% the storage modulus increased by 180-220%, viscosity increases by %61-107. Composites containing 65% EVA exhibit similar properties to the commercial one. Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) value was found as 30 for composites containing 26 mass% of EVA, it increased to 32-34 when EVA content increased to 65 mass%. © 2013 Smithers Rapra Technology