Static and dynamic mechanical properties of flame‐retardant copolyester/nano‐ZnCO₃ Composites

Citations Over TimeTop 15% of 2011 papers

Abstract

Abstract Novel phosphorus‐containing copolyester nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ polymerization with 2‐carboxyethyl(phenylphosphinic) acid (CEPPA) and nano‐ZnCO 3 . The flame retardancy and static and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/nano‐ZnCO 3 composites and phosphorus‐containing copolyester/nano‐ZnCO 3 composites were evaluated with limiting oxygen index measurements, vertical burning testing (UL‐94), a universal tensile machine, and a dynamic mechanical analysis thermal analyzer. The phosphorus‐containing copolyester nanocomposites had higher limiting oxygen indices (ca. 32%) and a V0 rating according to the UL‐94 test; this indicated that nano‐ZnCO 3 and CEPPA greatly improved the flame retardancy of PET. The static mechanical test results showed that the breaking strength, modulus, and yield stress of the composites tended to increase with increasing nano‐ZnCO 3 content; when 3 wt % nano‐ZnCO 3 was added to PET and the phosphorus‐containing copolyester, the breaking strength of the composites was higher than that of pure PET. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that the dynamic storage modulus and loss modulus of the PET composites increased markedly in comparison with those of pure PET. However, the glass‐transition temperatures associated with the peaks of the storage modulus, mechanical loss factor, and loss modulus significantly decreased with the addition of ZnCO 3 and CEPPA. The morphologies of the composites were also investigated with scanning electron microscopy, which revealed that nano‐ZnCO 3 was dispersed homogeneously in the PET and copolyester matrix without the formation of large aggregates. In addition, the interfacial adhesion of nano‐ZnCO 3 and the matrix was perfect, and this might have significantly affected the mechanical properties of the composites. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011

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