Synergistic Effect of Aluminum Hydroxide and Antimony Trioxide on the Flammability of Phosphorous Modified Epoxy Resin

Abstract

In this study, aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and antimony trioxide based phosphorous modified epoxy resin (Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) is synthesized and subsequently cured with tri-ethylene tetraamine (TETA) at room temperature to enhance the flame retardancy of phosphorous based epoxy resins. The structure of the modified flame retardant epoxy resin (FREP) is characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UL-94 and by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), moreover, mechanical properties are analyzed to study the effect of such additives addition on epoxy resin. Introduction of both antimony and aluminum hydroxide together in phosphorous modified epoxy resin brings the success to enhance the flame retardant properties of the epoxy resin. The addition of 40 weight % of aluminum hydroxide and antimony trioxide mixture in phosphorus-modified epoxy resin demonstrated optimal composition among all selected compositions i.e. 10 %, 20%, 30%, 40% and has shown eminent flammability along with balance mechanical strength. The obtained findings confirm the functionality of demonstrated modified resin as an effective flame retardant material.

Keywords: Fire retardant, epoxy Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A, Aluminium hydroxide, Antimoney trioxide,