THERMAL STABILITY, FLAME RETARDANCY AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE)/CLAY COMPOSITES

Abstract

Composites based on plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) and organonanoclay(PVC/nanoclay) were prepared by direct melt blending. The influence of content of dioctylphtalate (DOP) plasticizer and nanoclay on the thermal stability, flammability, and electricalproperties of plasticized PVC/nanoclay composites have been investigated. The thermal stabilityof the composites was investigated with thermogravimetry, their flammability was tested by UL-94 vertical method and their electrical properties (dielectric constant, dielectric loss andbreakdown voltage) were measured, according to ASTM DI50 and D149. The results showedthat the thermal stability of the composites improved when nanoclay content was I wt. %, andnanoclay can act as a flame retardant in decreasing the flame times t, and t, of the samples. Thedielectric constant and dielectric loss of the composites increased lightly with increasing the.,content of DOP and nanoclay. The breakdown voltage 9f the PVC/DOP/nanoclay compositeswith some small contents of nanoclay was higher value than that ofthe PVCIDOP compound