Preparation and Fire Retardancy of Antimony Oxide Nanoparticles/Mica Composition

Nano-Sb2O3/mica flame retardant composition is synthesized by colloidal and assembling techniques. The morphology and assembled behavior of nano-Sb2O3 on mica are analyzed by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The flame retardant properties and mechanism of nano-Sb2O3 and nano-Sb2O3/mica composition are studied by combustion test, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show that the nano-Sb2O3 particles assembling in nano-Sb2O3/mica composition distribute on the mica surface with smaller size (about 5 nm), higher dispersivity, narrower size distribution and alike shapes, compared with nano-Sb2 O3 prepared by the normal method. The nano-Sb2O 3/mica composition has achieved the same synergistic effects with chlorinated paraffin as nano-Sb2O3, and its flame retardant properties have been improved prominently through decreasing the temperature and combustion reaction rate of the polymer effectively and forming char. When the FRP sample contains about 7wt% nanocomposition (i.e., containing about 0.8 wt% mica), it is self-extinguished once departing from the fire while combusting.