In recent years, with the continuous advancement of science and technology and the increasing awareness of environmental protection, flame retardant materials are increasingly used in wires, cables and plastic products. Melamine, a traditional chemical raw material, has shown extraordinary potential in the field of flame retardancy, especially in EVA, cross-linked polyethylene wire and cable materials, nylon, polyester and HIPS, which has attracted widespread attention in the industry.

Breakthrough in the flame retardancy of melamine in wires and cables

It is reported that researchers have successfully compounded melamine with calcined kaolin and PPO and applied them to the flame retardancy of EVA and cross-linked polyethylene wire and cable materials. This innovative formula not only makes the flame retardancy of the material reach the high standard of UL 94V-0, but also makes the LOI (limiting oxygen index) value exceed 130%, far exceeding the industry average. This achievement not only improves the safety performance of wires and cables, but also sets a new technical benchmark for the industry.

A new chapter in flame retardant nylon

Melamine also performs well in the flame retardant application of nylon. Experiments have shown that by adding only 5% to 8% melamine to nylon 6 or nylon 66 within a certain viscosity range, it can easily pass the ASTM D-635 test standard. The compounding scheme of melamine and zinc chloride has successfully prepared UL 94 V-0 flame retardant nylon without dripping, further broadening the application range of nylon materials.

It is worth noting that in nylon 6 and PPE alloys, the addition of melamine also significantly improves the flame retardant properties of the alloys. By adding 3 to 20 parts by mass of melamine, the alloy can reach the UL94V-0 flame retardant standard. Melamine can also be used in combination with other flame retardants such as zinc borate and halogen flame retardants to further enhance the flame retardant effect of nylon.

However, the precipitation or blooming of melamine in nylon flame retardant has always been the focus of the industry. Modification with non-ionic surfactants, coupling agents, organic acids (salts), etc., or direct addition of melamine during the nylon polymerization process can effectively solve this problem and improve the overall performance of nylon materials.

The Green Road of Flame Retardant Polyester

Melamine also plays an important role in halogen-free and phosphorus-free flame-retardant PBT materials. By adding 18% to 35% melamine and appropriate additives, researchers have successfully produced PBT materials with a flame retardant level of UL94 V-0. If the material's drip-free flame retardant performance needs to be further improved, additives such as barium sulfate or condensation products of urea and phenylphosphoryl chloride can be added. This achievement not only meets the market demand for environmentally friendly flame retardant materials, but also provides strong support for the widespread application of PBT materials.

New strategy for HIPS flame retardancy

In response to the flame retardant requirements of HIPS materials, Guan Xilong's team at Qingdao University of Science and Technology conducted in-depth research. They found that the flame retardant effect of HIPS with the addition of melamine (MA) alone was not ideal. However, with the increase of the MA/HIPS mass ratio (from 0/100 to 30/100), the ignition time of the sample showed an interesting phenomenon of first shortening and then extending. This discovery reveals the complex mechanism of the influence of flame retardants on the thermal conductivity and thermal stability of polymers.

In order to improve the flame retardant properties of HIPS, researchers suggest using melamine in combination with phosphorus flame retardants, epoxy resins, etc. This composite flame retardant strategy can not only effectively improve the flame retardant level of HIPS, but also to some extent solve the shortcomings of using a single flame retardant.

Conclusion

The application of melamine in the flame retardant field of wires, cables and plastics has shown great potential and broad prospects. With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the increasing requirements for environmental protection, we have reason to believe that in the future development, melamine will play an important role in more fields with its unique properties and advantages. We also look forward to more scientific researchers devoting themselves to the research and development in this field and jointly promoting the innovation and development of flame retardant material technology.