Influence of Cu2+-organic montmorillonites on thermal decomposition and smoke emission of poly(vinyl chloride) by cone calorimetric study

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2007

Abstract

Cu2+-Organic montmorillonites were prepared by modifying Na + montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) with silane coupling agents and cupric sulfate. PVC/organic montmorillonite composites were prepared by the melt intercalation method. Morphological structure of modified MMT and PVC/MMT was obtained by using XRD and SEM. The XRD results showed that silanes and Cu2+ were intercalated among interlayers and that modified MMT may have exfoliated dispersion in PVC. Effects of Cu2+-organic montmorillonites on decomposition and smoke emission of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in the flaming mode were investigated by using a cone calorimeter at an incident heat flux of 25 kW·m-2. Cone experimental data demonstrated that the Cu2+-organic montmorillonites prepared were new effective smoke suppressants. They clearly promoted an early HCl elimination, cross-linking reactions, and char residue formation, based upon the decomposition parameters of mass loss, mass loss rate, and time of initial decomposition (tinitial). Cu2+Organic montmorillonites decreased peak heat release rate, total heat release, peak smoke production rate, total smoke production, and smoke extinction area during the flaming process. The smoke-reducing efficiency of Cu2+-organic montmorillonites (Cu2+-OMMTs) was the best However, the content of cupric ion was only 0.6-0.8% in Cu2+-OMMTs and 0.03-0.04% in PVC composites. They may make the smoke-reducing efficiency reach 45-50%. This result further demonstrates that Cu2+ ion is a very effective smoke suppressant for PVC. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Vinyl and Additive Technology

First Page

31

Last Page

39

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