Aluminium hydroxide endothermic decomposition

Aluminium hydroxide is essentially non-toxic, but does require high addition levels to be effective. As a result, the physical properties of the compound usually suffer. Its fire retardancy action results from the endothermic reaction which releases water under fire conditions and produces a protective char . The endothermic reaction draws heat from the rubber/filler mass and thus reduces the thermal decomposition rate. The water release dilutes the available fuel supply, cooling the rubber surface and mass. 

One of the emerging technologies that is showing great promise is the use of hydrated mineral fillers such as aluminium and magnesium hydroxides, as such materials can provide high levels of flame retardancy without the formation of smoke or corrosive and potentially toxic fumes. The use of fillers as flame retardants has recently been reviewed by Rothon [23]. Essentially the key features are an endothermic decomposition to reduce the temperature, the release of an inert gas to dilute the combustion gases and the formation of an oxide layer to insulate the polymer and to trap and oxidise soot precursors. 

Aluminium hydroxide has a Moh hardness of about 3 and a specific gravity of 2.4. It decomposes endothermically with the release of water at about 200 °C and this makes it a very useful flame retardant filler, this being the principal reason for its use in polymers. The decomposition temperature is in fact too low for many thermoplastics applications, but it is widely used in low smoke P VC applications and finds some use in polyolefins. For these applications low aspect ratio particles with a size of about 1 micron and a specific surface area of 4-10 m g are preferred. The decomposition pathway can be diverted through the mono-hydrate by the application of pressure, and this may reduce the flame retardant effect [97]. This effect can be observed with the larger sized particles. Although it is chemically the hydroxide, it has for many years been known as alumina trihydrate and by the acronym ATH. 

Metal hydroxides, in particular aluminium trihydroxide (ATH), which is a low-cost filler, and magnesium dihydroxide (MDH). The endothermic decomposition of Al(OH)3 occurs between 180 and 200°C and leads to the release of water and the formation of an insulating ceramic layer of alumina (AI2O3). The use of ATH also reduces the HRR peak aud the smoke production. Mg(OH)2 acts in a similar way but its endothermic degradation occurs at a higher temperature (over 300°C) and a protective layer of MgO is formed at the composite surface. 

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