POLYMERS & POLYMER COMPOSITES, vol.23, no.7, pp.461-465, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
The aim of this study was to produce flame retardant all-polyamide (PA) composites with acceptable tensile properties. Firstly, the effect of consolidation temperature on tensile properties of composites was investigated to find the optimum processing temperature. Flame retardant composites were produced at the optimum consolidation temperature (240 degrees C). Aluminium diethyl phosphinate (AlPi) and its mixture with melamine polyphosphate and zinc borate were used for producing flame retardant all-PA composites. The flammability properties of the composites were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 standards. According to the flammability test results, AlPi was more effective than its mixture and 10 wt.% AlPi containing composite showed V0 rating with a LOI value of 27.6. As well as the flammability properties, the addition of both types of flame retardant additives increased the tensile strength and Young's modulus values with respect to the pristine all-PA composite.