Functionalized Aluminium Trihydrate With Tunable Surface Properties for Multifunctional Applications

ABSTRACT This article furnishes an in‐depth investigation on aluminium trihydrate (ATH) surface modification which eventually enhances surface characteristics of the ATH particles with a polymer matrix for improvement of properties like flame retardancy, mechanical, and thermal properties. The ATH surface was modified with Vinyl trimethoxy silane (VTMO), Stearic acid (STA), and Titanate Coupling Agent (TCA) with varying concentrations from 0.5 to 2 phr for all the surface modifying agents and temperature was used in the range of 40°C–45°C in a Henschel mixer. Several characterization techniques like Contact angle meter, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)‐Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) have been employed in the present investigation. The cable compound containing ATH into EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) + LLDPE (Linear Low‐Density Polyethylene) matrix showed improvement of mechanical properties. UL‐94 testing showed V‐0 classification for modified ATH composites compared to V‐1 for unmodified ATH, while LOI values increased from 28.5% to 33.8% for VTMO‐modified ATH. Tensile strength improved from 32.4 to 38.9 MPa and elongation at break increased from 42% to 58%, confirming enhanced interfacial interaction.