Optimization of the Mechanical Properties of Polyolefin Composites Loaded with Mineral Fillers for Flame Retardant Cables
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
- Poly (ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) EVA28 ELVAX 265A, Du Pont, containing 28 wt.% of vinyl acetate, Melt Flow Index = 3 g/10 min, Density = 0.955 g/cm3.
- ULDPE-g-MAH, Fusabond N525, Dow, Ultra Low Density Polyethylene C2-C8 Copolymer, grafted with Maleic Anhydride (0.7–1.1 wt.%), Melt Flow Index = 3.7 g/10 min, Density = 0.88 g/cm3.
- Masterbatch of PDMS, Silmaprocess AL1142A by Silma Srl (Bologna, Italy), composed by 50 wt.% of high viscosity PMDS and 50 wt.% LLDPE, Silicon MB.
- Fillers used are described in Table 1:
- Grades of poly (ethylene-co-α-olefin) used are described in Table 2:
- Grades of C3-C2 copolymers (propylene-rich) used are described in Table 3:
3. Results
3.1. Study of the Amount of Coupling Agent
3.2. Variation of Content of n-MDH
3.3. Variation of Type of Polyolefin Used in Combination with EVA28
3.4. Variation of Type of Mineral Filler Used in Combination with Natural n-MDH
3.5. Flame Retardant Properties
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Ingredient | Chemical Formula | Origin | Trade Name | Supplier | D50 *1 (μm) | BET *2 (m2/g) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n-MDH | Mg(OH)2 | Natural | Ecopiren 3.5 | Europiren | 3.43 | 11–13 |
CaCO3 stearic coated | CaCO3 | Natural | Polyplex 0 | Calcit | 2.10 | 9.5 |
Boehmite | AlO(OH) | Synthetic | Aluprem TB 1/T | Tor Minerals | 1.21 | 12 |
S–MDH | Mg(OH)2 | Synthetic | Magnifin H5 | Huber | 1.50 | 4–6 |
Mg (OH)2 coated with silane | Mg(OH)2 | Synthetic | Magnifin H5GV | Huber | 1.50 | 2–5 |
coated with stearic acid | Mg(OH)2 | Synthetic | Kisuma 5A | Kisuma | 1.50 | 4–7 |
CaCO3 | CaCO3 | Synthetic | Winnofil S | Solvay | 0.3 | 14–16 |
Huntite | CaMg3(CO3)4 | Natural | Portafill H5 | Sibelco | 3.27 | 18 |
Ingredient *3 | Trade Name | Supplier | Density *1 | MFI *2 | Catalysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
C4–LLDPE | Flexirene CL10U | Versalis | 0.918 | 2.5 | Z-N |
C6–mLLDPE | Exceed 3518 | ExxonMobil | 0.918 | 3.5 | metallocene |
C6–mLLDPE | Exceed 3812 | ExxonMobil | 0.912 | 3.8 | metallocene |
C6–mLLDPE | Evolue SP1071C | Prime Polymer | 0.910 | 10 | metallocene |
C6–mLLDPE | Exceed 0015XC | ExxonMobil | 0.918 | 15 | metallocene |
C8-ULDPE | Engage 8450 | Dow | 0.902 | 3 | metallocene |
C4-VLDPE | Clearflex MBQ0 | Versalis | 0.911 | 13 | Z-N |
Ingredient | Trade Name | Supplier | Density *1 | MFI *2 | Catalysis |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heterophasic PP-EPR | Hifax CA10A | Lyndell-Basell | 0.880 | 0.6 | Z-N |
C3–C2 copolymer | Vistamaxx 6202 | Exxon-Mobil | 0.862 | 9.1 | metallocene |
C3–C2 copolymer | Versify 3000 | Dow | 0.891 | 8 | metallocene |
Ingredients | wt.% | Role |
---|---|---|
EVA 28–3 | 27 | Vinyl acetate comonomer contributes to flexibility, polarity, good behavior in fire tests (char forming) |
Ethylene α-olefin copolymer | 7–12 | Resistance to deformation at high temperature |
Mineral filler | 56–64 | Flame retardant |
ULDPE–g–MAH | 0–5 | Coupling agent |
Silicon MB | 1 | Processing aid |
Ingredient | Trade Name | A (%) | B (%) | C (%) | D (%) | E (%) | F (%) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EVA 28–3 | Elvax 265 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
C8–ULDPE | Engage 8450 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
ULDPE–g–MAH | Fusabond N 525 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
N–MDH | Ecopiren 3.5 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
Silicon MB | Silmaprocess AL1142A | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Properties | Unit | A 0% | B 1% | C 2% | D 3% | E 4% | F 5% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Density *1 (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.475 | 1.471 | 1.474 | 1.469 | 1.471 | 1.471 |
Calculated Density | g/cm3 | 1.472 | 1.471 | 1.471 | 1.470 | 1.469 | 1.469 |
MFI *2 | g/10 min | 14.7 ± 0.7 | 11.6 ± 0.6 | 10.3 ± 0.5 | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 7 ± 0.3 | 6.6 ± 0.4 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 99 ± 6 | 94 ± 12 | 89 ± 8 | 81 ± 7 | 74 ± 12 | 70 ± 2 |
Tensile Strength *3 | MPa | 7.0 ± 0.8 | 9.3 ± 0.9 | 9.9 ± 0.8 | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 11.8 ± 0.5 | 12.9 ± 0.7 |
Elongation at break *3 | % | 127 ± 45 | 140 ± 30 | 168 ± 24 | 173 ± 20 | 199 ± 18 | 187 ± 11 |
Properties | Unit | 56% | 58% | 60% | 62% | 64% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.416 | 1.445 | 1.469 | 1.502 | 1.529 |
Calculated Density | g/cm3 | 1.418 | 1.444 | 1.470 | 1.497 | 1.526 |
MFI | g/10 min | 12.4 ± 0.6 | 11.4 ± 0.6 | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 5.6 ± 0.3 | 3.8 ± 0.2 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 70 ± 5 | 80 ± 7 | 81 ± 7 | 83 ± 6 | 97 ± 7 |
LOI (±0.5) * | % | 34 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 40 |
Tensile Strength | MPa | 10.9 ± 0.8 | 10.9 ± 0.7 | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 11.2 ± 0.8 | 12.4 ± 0.8 |
Elongation at break | % | 243 ± 29 | 252 ± 28 | 173 ± 20 | 151 ± 9 | 119 ± 14 |
Properties | Unit | 4 C4-LLDPE | 5 C6-mLLDPE | 6 C6-mLLDPE | 7 C6-mLLDPE | 8 C6-mLLDPE | 9 C8-ULDPE | 10 C4-VLDPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Second polymer | Trade Name | Flexirene CL10U | Exceed 3518 | Exceed 3812 | Evolue SP1071 | Exceed 0015XC | Engage 8450 | Clearflex MBQ0 |
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.473 | 1.478 | 1.477 | 1.475 | 1.473 | 1.469 | 1.478 |
Calculated Density | g/cm3 | 1.474 | 1.474 | 1.472 | 1.472 | 1.474 | 1.470 | 1.472 |
MFI | g/10 min | 10 ± 0.5 | 5.7 ± 0.3 | 7.1 ± 0.4 | 10.3 ± 0.5 | 14.9±0.7 | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 13 ± 0.7 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 88 ± 5 | 105 ± 5 | 95 ± 9 | 96 ± 4 | 95 ± 6 | 81 ± 7 | 101 ± 10 |
Tensile Strengh | MPa | 14.1 ± 1.3 | 12.7 ± 0.5 | 11.9 ± 0.8 | 12.5 ± 0.8 | 12.0 ± 0.7 | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 11.3 ± 0.7 |
Elongation at Break | % | 114 ± 11 | 149 ± 16 | 138 ± 17 | 126 ± 20 | 111 ± 12 | 173 ± 20 | 194 ± 18 |
Properties | Unit | 11 Heterophasic PP-EPR | 12 C3-C2 Copolymer | 13 C3-C2 Copolymer |
---|---|---|---|---|
Second polymer | Trade Name | Hifax CA10A | Vistamaxx 6202 | Versify 3000 |
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.472 | 1.472 | 1.472 |
Calculated Density | g/cm3 | 1.470 | 1.470 | 1.470 |
MFI | g/10 min | 5.6 ± 0.3 | 11 ± 0.6 | 13 ± 0.6 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 76 ± 3 | 58 ± 8 | 109 ± 7 |
Tensile Strength | MPa | 12.7 ± 0,5 | 10.9 ± 0.7 | 11.9 ± 0.9 |
Elongation at Break | % | 163 ± 12 | 181 ± 20 | 128 ± 24 |
Properties | Unit | 9 Ecopiren 3.5 (n-MDH) | 14 Magnifin H5 (s-MDH) |
---|---|---|---|
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.469 | 1.462 |
MFI | g/10 min | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 12.8 ± 0.6 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 81 ± 7 | 72 ± 19 |
Tensile Strength | MPa | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 11.8 ± 0.2 |
Elongation at break | % | 173 ± 20 | 272 ± 71 |
Properties | Unit | 9 n-MDH | 15 Coated CaCO3 | 16 Huntite/Hydromagnesite |
---|---|---|---|---|
Secondary filler | Trade Name | Ecopiren 3.5 | Polyplex 0 | Portafill H5 |
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.469 | 1.487 | 1.489 |
MFI | g/10 min | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 10.4 ± 0.5 | 6.6 ± 0.3 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 81 ± 7 | 65 ± 4 | 87 ± 4 |
Tensile Strength | MPa | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 10.1 ± 0.5 | 11.8 ± 0.2 |
Elongation at break | % | 173 ± 20 | 198 ± 16 | 177 ± 24 |
Properties | Unit | 9 n-MDH | 17 AlOOH | 18 s-MDH | 19 Coated s-MDH | 20 Coated s-MDH | 21 Coated CaCO3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secondary filler | Trade Name | Ecopiren 3.5 | Aluprem TB 1/T | Magnifin H5 | Magnifin H5 GV | Kisuma 5A | Winnofil S |
Density (±0.1) | g/cm3 | 1.469 | 1.501 | 1.479 | 1.466 | 1.471 | 1.482 |
MFI | g/10 min | 9.2 ± 0.5 | 8.8 ± 0.4 | 8.8 ± 0.4 | 10.3 ± 0.5 | 9.6 ± 0.5 | 4.2 ± 0.2 |
Young’s Modulus | MPa | 81 ± 7 | 72 ± 6 | 72 ± 4 | 76 ± 6 | 71 ± 3 | 74 ± 9 |
Tensile Strength | MPa | 11.6 ± 0.7 | 11.3 ± 0.6 | 13.4 ± 0.4 | 12.6 ± 0.5 | 13.1 ± 0.3 | 11.8 ± 0.1 |
Elongation at break | % | 173 ± 20 | 201 ± 17 | 188 ± 14 | 190 ± 15 | 179 ± 22 | 234 ± 30 |
Properties | Unit | 9 n-MDH | 14 s-MDH | 17 AlOOH | 18 s-MDH | 21 Coated CaCO3 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Secondary filler | Trade Name | 100% Ecopiren 3.5 | 100% Magnifin H5 | 15% Aluprem TB 1/T | 15% Magnifin H5 | 15% Winnofil S |
LOI | % | 36 | 38,5 | 37 | 36.5 | 33 |
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Haveriku, S.; Meucci, M.; Badalassi, M.; Cardelli, C.; Ruggeri, G.; Pucci, A. Optimization of the Mechanical Properties of Polyolefin Composites Loaded with Mineral Fillers for Flame Retardant Cables. Micro 2021, 1, 102-119. https://doi.org/10.3390/micro1010008
Haveriku S, Meucci M, Badalassi M, Cardelli C, Ruggeri G, Pucci A. Optimization of the Mechanical Properties of Polyolefin Composites Loaded with Mineral Fillers for Flame Retardant Cables. Micro. 2021; 1(1):102-119. https://doi.org/10.3390/micro1010008
Chicago/Turabian StyleHaveriku, Sara, Michela Meucci, Marco Badalassi, Camillo Cardelli, Giacomo Ruggeri, and Andrea Pucci. 2021. "Optimization of the Mechanical Properties of Polyolefin Composites Loaded with Mineral Fillers for Flame Retardant Cables" Micro 1, no. 1: 102-119. https://doi.org/10.3390/micro1010008