Effect of Reinforcing Agents, Fillers and Flame Retardants on Polymer Properties

Effect of Reinforcing Agents, Fillers and Flame Retardants on Polymer Properties 

For some non-fire retardant grades of polymers, fire retardancy characteristics might improve when a filler is incorporated into the formulation. Thus, for epoxy resins, the incorporation of minerals, glass fibre, silica or graphite all improve flame spread, flammability and LOI from the poor category for the virgin polymer to the good 

Such improvement, cannot, however, be taken for granted. No improvement in fire retardancy characteristics were observed when a wide range of fillers/reinforcing agents were incorporated into non-fire retardant PC, PBT, PET, PA-6,6 or SAN copolymer. 

In some cases the incorporation of a fire retardant can affect mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of polymers. 

These factors should be considered before any decisions are made on the selection of a fire retardant polymer for a particular application. 

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