TY - JOUR A1 - Gallo, Emanuela A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Russo, P. A1 - Acierno, Domenico T1 - Fire retardant synergisms between nanometric Fe2O3 and aluminium phosphinate in poly(butylene terephthalate) JF - Polymers for advanced technologies N2 - The pyrolysis and the flame retardancy of poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) containing aluminum diethylphosphinate (AlPi) and nanometric Fe2O3 were investigated using thermal analysis, evolved gas analysis (Thermogravimetry-FTIR), flammability tests (LOI, UL 94), cone calorimeter measurements and chemical analysis of residue (FTIR). AlPi mainly acts as a flame inhibitor in the gas phase, through the release of diethylphosphinic acid. A small amount of Fe2O3 in PBT promotes the formation of a carbonaceous char in the condensed phase. The combination of 5 and 8 wt% AlPi, respectively, with 2 wt% metal oxides achieves V-0 classification in the UL 94 test thanks to complementary action mechanisms. Using PBT/metal oxide nanocomposites shows a significant increase in the flame retardancy efficiency of AlPi in PBT and thus opens the route to surprisingly sufficient additive contents as low as 7 wt%. KW - Poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) KW - Flammability KW - Metal oxide KW - Nanocomposite KW - Aluminum diethylphosphinate PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pat.1774 SN - 1042-7147 SN - 1099-1581 VL - 22 IS - 12 SP - 2382 EP - 2391 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. CY - Chichester AN - OPUS4-24915 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -