Focke, WWMuiambo, HMhike, WKruger, HJOfosu, O2015-01-142015-01-142014-02Focke, W.W, Muiambo, H, Mhike, W, Kruger, H.J and Ofosu, O. 2014. Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite. Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 100, pp 63-690141-3910http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0141391013004291/1-s2.0-S0141391013004291-main.pdf?_tid=05619036-9b1f-11e4-871a-00000aacb35e&acdnat=1421152006_8f2bf68ec6a2ce3ded82e0857470b52ehttp://hdl.handle.net/10204/7832Copyright: 2014 Elsevier. This the pre/post print version of the work. The definitive version is published in Polymer Degradation and Stability, vol. 100, pp 63-69The utility of expandable graphite as a flame retardant for PVC, plasticized with 60 phr of a phosphate ester, was investigated. Cone calorimeter results, at a radiant flux of 35 kW m 2, revealed that adding only 5 wt.% expandable graphite lowered the peak heat release rate from 325 11 kW m 2 to 63 23 kW m 2 and the total heat release from 55 11 MJ m 2 to only 10.7 0.3 MJ m 2. All samples containing expandable graphite ignited and burned only very briefly before flame out. The remarkable effectiveness of the expandable graphite is attributed to an excellent match between the exfoliation onset temperature of the graphite and the onset of decomposition of the PVC. This means that the exfoliation of the graphite forms a protective barrier layer at the right place at the right time. In addition, the simultaneous release of halogen species by the polymer matrix and the exfoliating graphite prevents the formation of a flammable air fuel mixture.enExpandable graphiteGraphite oxideGraphite intercalation compoundExfoliationThermal analysisArticleFocke, W., Muiambo, H., Mhike, W., Kruger, H., & Ofosu, O. (2014). Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7832Focke, WW, H Muiambo, W Mhike, HJ Kruger, and O Ofosu "Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite." (2014) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7832Focke W, Muiambo H, Mhike W, Kruger H, Ofosu O. Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite. 2014; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7832.TY - Article AU - Focke, WW AU - Muiambo, H AU - Mhike, W AU - Kruger, HJ AU - Ofosu, O AB - The utility of expandable graphite as a flame retardant for PVC, plasticized with 60 phr of a phosphate ester, was investigated. Cone calorimeter results, at a radiant flux of 35 kW m 2, revealed that adding only 5 wt.% expandable graphite lowered the peak heat release rate from 325 11 kW m 2 to 63 23 kW m 2 and the total heat release from 55 11 MJ m 2 to only 10.7 0.3 MJ m 2. All samples containing expandable graphite ignited and burned only very briefly before flame out. The remarkable effectiveness of the expandable graphite is attributed to an excellent match between the exfoliation onset temperature of the graphite and the onset of decomposition of the PVC. This means that the exfoliation of the graphite forms a protective barrier layer at the right place at the right time. In addition, the simultaneous release of halogen species by the polymer matrix and the exfoliating graphite prevents the formation of a flammable air fuel mixture. DA - 2014-02 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Expandable graphite KW - Graphite oxide KW - Graphite intercalation compound KW - Exfoliation KW - Thermal analysis LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2014 SM - 0141-3910 T1 - Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite TI - Flexible PVC flame retarded with expandable graphite UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/7832 ER -