TY - JOUR A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Braun, Ulrike A1 - Schwarz, U. A1 - Reinemann, S. T1 - Fire Retardancy of Polypropylene/Flax Blends JF - Polymer N2 - A comprehensive characterization of the thermal and the fire behaviour is presented for polypropylene (PP) flax compounds containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and expandable graphite as fire retardants. Thermogravimetry coupled with an evolved gas analysis (TG-FTIR) was performed to ensure a significant thermal analysis. The fire response under forced flaming conditions was studied using a cone calorimeter. The external heat flux was varied between 30 and 70 kW m-2 so that the results could be evaluated for different fire scenarios and tests. Different flammability tests (UL 94, limiting oxygen index, glow wire test, GMI 60261) were performed and the results compared with the cone calorimeter data. The different char forming mechanisms are described and the resulting fire retardancy is classified. The successful and ecological friendly fire retardancy is a technological breakthrough for PP/flax biocomposites. KW - Biosomposites KW - Flame retardancy KW - Flax PY - 2003 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-3861(03)00692-X SN - 0032-3861 SN - 1873-2291 VL - 44 IS - 20 SP - 6241 EP - 6250 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-2640 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -