Selectively located aluminum hydroxide in rubber phase in a TPV: Towards to a halogen‐free flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer with ultrahigh flexibility

Novel thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) based on two EVAs with different VA contents, ethylene vinyl acetate rubber (VA content =50 wt%; EVM) and ethylene VA copolymer (VA content =28 wt%; EVA₂₈), has been successfully prepared by dynamic vulcanization in our previous work. In this study, we have incorporated aluminum hydroxide (ATH) into the TPV based on EVM/EVA₂₈ for the purpose to fabricate halogen‐free flame retardant TPVs with high flexibility. The morphology and the properties of the ATH filled TPVs have been investigated. It was found that the ATH particles were finely dispersed into the crosslinked EVM phase, while few ATH particles were observed in the EVA₂₈ matrix. The fabricated TPVs with 45% ATH exhibit LOI of 30.2%, significantly prolonged ignition time, and drastically reduced heat release rate. At the same time, the TPVs show excellent stretchability (>300% elongation at break), nice elasticity (only about 30% remnant strain at 100% stretching), high strength, and good flexibility as well. We have attributed the multifunctional performance of the ATH filled TPVs to both the fine phase structure of the base TPVs and the selective dispersion of ATH fillers in the rubber phase. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1258–1265, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers