Study on Synergistic Flame-Retardancy of Surface Modified Zinc Stannate and Ammonium Polyphosphate on Polypropylene Nanocomposites

The effect of zinc stannate and synergy between zinc stannate with ammonium polyphosphate in polypropylene matrix is studied. The zinc stannate nanoparticles were synthesized by surfactant assisted low temperature precipitation method, and further surface modified with tetraethyl-orthosilicate at room temperature. Zinc stannate (ZS) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) were incorporated in polypropylene matrix (1, 5 and 10 % by wt.). PP nanocomposites were analysed for flexural strength, tensile strength, linear burning rate, smoke density and LOI test. Morphology of nano particles and composites were analysed by FESEM. Mechanical analysis of PP nanocomposites demonstrates that, the modified ZS-TEOS performed better than unmodified ZS. Smoke density profiles suggest that the APP could slightly generate more smoke in PP with ZS and ZS-TEOS. Linear burning rate test results indicates that the APP with ZS and ZS-TEOS provide stability to PP for resisting flame spread.