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Polymers
Volume 17
Issue 21
10.3390/polym17212854
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Development of Infrared Transmission Flame-Retardant Polyethylene Melt Blends and Melt-Blown Nonwovens

by
Weizhu An
1,2,
Yihui Wei
1,
Youkuai Lin
3,
Shihao Wang
1,
Chengjian Li
1,
Haiqian Yu
1,
Xing Wu
1,
Yinchao Zhu
1,
Munir Hussain
1,* and
Feichao Zhu
1,2,*
1
College of Textile Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
2
Zhejiang Sci-Tech University Shengzhou Innovation Research Institute, Shengzhou 312400, China
3
Huahao Nonwovens Co., Ltd., Longgang 325802, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Polymers 2025, 17(21), 2854; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212854 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 September 2025 / Revised: 16 October 2025 / Accepted: 24 October 2025 / Published: 26 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Polymer Fibers)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Polyethylene (PE) melt-blown nonwoven materials exhibit excellent infrared transmission properties, making them well-suited for applications in infrared physiotherapy and smart building technologies. However, their high flammability and tendency to generate melting droplets and smoke seriously limit their applications. Herein, phosphorus-silicon flame-retardant PE melt-blown blends were prepared by the melt blending of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and nano-silica (SiO2). Next, the thermal, rheological, and crystallization properties of the blends were investigated. Subsequently, flame-retardant PE melt-blown nonwoven materials were prepared and tested. It was found that APP and SiO2 decreased the melt flowability of the material, while slightly decreasing the melting point, increasing crystallinity and enhancing the thermal stability by shifting the decomposition temperature by 51 °C. Moreover, the presence of flame retardants increased the roughness and diameter of fibers. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of the PE melt-blown materials with 10% APP and 1% SiO2 reached 28.6%, reaching the flame-retardant level without dripping during combustion. This highlights important guidelines for developing infrared-transmitting, flame-retardant PE nonwovens for safe and sustainable applications.
Keywords: polyethylene; melting index; melt-blown nonwoven; rheological properties; flame-retardant polyethylene; melting index; melt-blown nonwoven; rheological properties; flame-retardant

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

An, W.; Wei, Y.; Lin, Y.; Wang, S.; Li, C.; Yu, H.; Wu, X.; Zhu, Y.; Hussain, M.; Zhu, F. Development of Infrared Transmission Flame-Retardant Polyethylene Melt Blends and Melt-Blown Nonwovens. Polymers 2025, 17, 2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212854

AMA Style

An W, Wei Y, Lin Y, Wang S, Li C, Yu H, Wu X, Zhu Y, Hussain M, Zhu F. Development of Infrared Transmission Flame-Retardant Polyethylene Melt Blends and Melt-Blown Nonwovens. Polymers. 2025; 17(21):2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212854

Chicago/Turabian Style

An, Weizhu, Yihui Wei, Youkuai Lin, Shihao Wang, Chengjian Li, Haiqian Yu, Xing Wu, Yinchao Zhu, Munir Hussain, and Feichao Zhu. 2025. "Development of Infrared Transmission Flame-Retardant Polyethylene Melt Blends and Melt-Blown Nonwovens" Polymers 17, no. 21: 2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212854

APA Style

An, W., Wei, Y., Lin, Y., Wang, S., Li, C., Yu, H., Wu, X., Zhu, Y., Hussain, M., & Zhu, F. (2025). Development of Infrared Transmission Flame-Retardant Polyethylene Melt Blends and Melt-Blown Nonwovens. Polymers, 17(21), 2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17212854

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