TY - JOUR A1 - Rhiem, S. A1 - Barthel, Anne-Kathrin A1 - Meyer-Plath, A. A1 - Hennig, M. P. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Sturm, Heinz A1 - Schäffer, A. A1 - Maes, H. M. T1 - Release of 14C-labelled carbon nanotubes from polycarbonate composites JF - Environmental Pollution N2 - Waste disposal of carbon nanotube (CNT) containing products is expected to be the most important pathway for release of CNTs into the environment. In the present work, the use of radiolabelled CNTs (14C-CNT) for polycarbonate polymer nanocomposites with 1 wt% 14C-CNT content allowed for the first time to quantify and differentiate the CNT release according to the type of impact along the materials' ageing history. After an initial exposure of the nanocomposite by solar-like irradiation, further environmental impacts were applied to composite material. They aimed at mimicking disposal site conditions that may induce further ageing effects and CNT release. This study included shaking in water, rapid temperature changes, soaking in humic acid solution as well as waste water effluent, and, finally, gentle mechanical abrasion. All ageing impacts were applied sequentially, both on pristine (control) and on solar-irradiated nanocomposites. All experiments were accompanied by absolute quantification of radioactive release as well as chemical and morphological analyses of the nanocomposite surfaces using infra-red (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The morphological analysis showed that spectral irradiation can uncover CNT networks on the outer nanocomposite surface layers by polymer degradation. After having subjected the solar-irradiated nanocomposite to all studied disposal site effect, the total radioactive release was quantified to amount to 64 mg CNT/m2, whereas only 0.8 mg CNT/m2 were found for the un-irradiated control sample. Solar degradation of polymers was thus found to significantly increase the propensity of the studied polymer nanocomposites to release CNTs during ageing effects at the product's end-of-life typical for disposal sites. KW - Weathering KW - Carbon nanotubes KW - Nanocomposites KW - Release KW - Quantification PY - 2016 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749116303748 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.098 SN - 0269-7491 VL - 215 IS - August SP - 356 EP - 365 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Paris AN - OPUS4-36899 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Qiu, Y. A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Klack, Patrick A1 - Qian, L. A1 - Liu, Z. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Improved flame retardancy by synergy between cyclotetrasiloxane and phosphaphenanthrene/triazine compounds in epoxy thermoset JF - Polymer International N2 - A siloxane compound (MVC) and a bi-group phosphaphenanthrene/triazine compound (TGD) were employed in epoxy thermosets to explore high-efficiency flame retardant systems. With only 1wt% MVC and 3wt% TGD, an epoxy thermoset passed UL 94 V-0 rating test and achieved a limiting oxygen index value of 34.0%, exhibiting an excellent flame retardant effect. The MVC/TGD system not only decreased the peak value of heat release rate and effective heat of combustion but also imparted an improved charring ability to thermosets, thereby outstandingly reducing the flammability of 1%MVC/3%TGD/EP. Compared with the fire performance of 4%TGD/EP and 4%MVC/EP, the MVC/TGD system showed an obvious flame retardant synergistic effect, mainly depending on the general improvement of flame inhibition, charring and barrier effects of the thermoset during combustion. Evolved gas analysis combinedwith condensed-phase pyrolysis product Analysis jointly revealed the details of the changed pyrolysis mode. KW - Flame retardant KW - Epoxy resin KW - Synergy KW - Siloxane KW - DOPO KW - Triazine PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pi.5466 SN - 0959-8103 SN - 1097-0126 VL - 66 IS - 12 SP - 1883 EP - 1890 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-42950 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tan, Yi A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Klack, Patrick A1 - Kukofka, Tobias A1 - Ruder, J. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Durability of the flame retardance of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer cables: Comparing different flame retardants exposed to different weathering conditions JF - Journal of Applied Polymer Science N2 - Scientific publications addressing the durability of the flame retardance of cables during their long-term application are rare and our understanding lacks. Three commercial flame retardants, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum diethyl phosphinate (AlPi-Et), and intumescent flame retardant based on ammonium polyphosphate, applied in ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) model cables, are investigated. Different artificial aging scenarios were applied: accelerated weathering (UV-irradiation/temperature/rain phases), humidity exposure (elevated temperature/humidity), and salt spray exposure. The deterioration of cables’ surface and flame retardancy were monitored through imaging, color measurements, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and cone calorimeter investigations. Significant degradation of the materials’ surface occurred. The flame retardant EVA cables are most sensitive to humidity exposure; the cable with AlPi-Et is the most sensitive to the artificial aging scenarios. Nevertheless, substantial flame retardance persisted after being subjected for 2000 h, which indicates that the equivalent influence of natural exposure is limited for several years, but less so for long-term use. KW - Durability KW - Flame retardant KW - Cable KW - Weathering KW - Cone calorimeter PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/APP.47548 SN - 0021-8995 VL - 137 IS - 1 SP - 47548 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-50237 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Daus, Lars-Hendrik A1 - Schartel, Bernhard A1 - Wachtendorf, Volker A1 - Mangelsdorf, R. A1 - Korzen, Manfred T1 - A chain is no stronger than its weakest link: Weathering resistance of water-based intumescent coatings for steel applications JF - Journal of Fire Sciences N2 - A systematic approach was used to investigate the weathering-induced degradation of a common water–based intumescent coating. In this study, the coatings are intended for humid indoor applications on steel substrates. The coating contains ammonium polyphosphate, pentaerythritol, melamine, and polyvinyl acetate. By replacing each ingredient with a less water-soluble substance, the most vulnerable substances, polyvinyl acetate and pentaerythritol, were identified. Furthermore, the weathering resistance of the system was improved by exchanging the ingredients. The coatings were stressed by artificial weathering tests and evaluated by fire tests. Thermogravimetry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to study the thermal decomposition. This study lays the foundation for the development of a new generation of water-based intumescent coatings. KW - Intumescence KW - Fire resistance KW - Fire protective coatings KW - Weathering KW - Thermogravimetric analyses PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1177/0734904120961064 SN - 0734-9041 SN - 1530-8049 VL - 39 IS - 1 SP - 72 EP - 102 PB - SAGE AN - OPUS4-52015 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -