Open Access

ARTICLE

Synergistic Effect of Piperazine Pyrophosphate (PAPP)/Melamine Polyphosphate (MPP)/ZnO Halogen-Free Flame Retardant System in PPC-P/PBAT Blends

Yuxin Zheng, Ke Xu, Baicheng Zhang, Shengxin Guan, Lin Xia, Zhaoge Huang^*

Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, Ministry of Education/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Rubber-Plastics, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, China

* Corresponding Author: Zhaoge Huang. Email:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2025, 42(1), 237-253. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpm.2025.059622

Received 13 October 2024; Accepted 30 December 2024; Issue published 27 March 2025

Abstract

In this manuscript, we conveniently prepared a series of polyester-polycarbonate copolymer (PPC-P)/polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) blends that exhibit both flame-retardant properties and toughness. Piperazine pyrophosphate (PAPP), melamine phosphate (MPP) and ZnO were used as synergistic flame retardants for PPC-P/PBAT blends. The effects of synergistic flame retardants on thermal stability, combustion behavior and flame retardancy of PPC-P/PBAT blends were investigated. The results showed that when the ratio of PAPP/MPP/ZnO was 18.4:9.2:2.4, the LOI of PPC-P/PBAT composite was 42.8%, and UL-94 reached V-0 level. The results of cone calorimetry showed that the mass loss rate (MLR), the peak value of the biggest smoke production rate (pSPR) and total smoke production (TSP) of the material decreased, and a continuously expanded carbon layer with a compact structure was formed after combustion. The carbon layer formed after surface combustion protects the material from decomposition over a long temperature range. In terms of mechanical properties, compared with the composites with only PAPP and MPP, PAPP/MPP/ZnO composites can improve the mechanical properties. After adding 2.4 wt% ZnO, the tensile strength and impact strength of the polymer increased to 34.2 MPa and 28.5 kJ/m², respectively. The results showed that the use of non-toxic, environmentally friendly, halogen-free flame retardants to enhance the flame retardant properties of biodegradable polymer composites is a promising direction in the future.

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Keywords

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