Study of the Fire Performance of Magnesium Hydroxide Sulfate Hydrate Whisker Flame Retardant Polyethylene

Halogen-free, flame retardant low density poly-ethylene (LDPE) composites, using magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate (MHSH) whiskers as a flame retardant, combined with microencapsulated red phosphorous (MRP) as a synergist, have been prepared using a two-roll mill. Their fire properties were determined by uisng the limiting oxygen index (LOIa, the UL-94 test and cone calorimetry. The results showed that MRP was a good synergist in improving the flame retardance of the LDPE/MHSH whisker system. Poly[ethylen-co-(vinyl acetate)] (EVA), used a compatibilizer, increased the fire performance of LDPE/MHSH whisker composites.