Influence of melamine cyanurate on flame retardancy of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

PET-MCA composites(PET-MCA) and phosphorus-contanining poly(ethylene terephthalate)(CP-PET)-MCA composites(CP-PET-MCA) were synthesized from melamine cyanurate(MCA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate)(PET) and MCA and CP-PET,respectively.The thermal stability,flame retardancy and char forming characteristics of the products were investigated by TGA,LOI,vertical burning test,cone calorimetry,SEM and EDS,and the mechanism was discussed.The result suggested that the temperature of thermal decomposition of PET-MCA and CP-PET-MCA showed a slight decrease,and the residual char after burning and LOI increased.CP-PET-MCA reached rating V-0 in accordance with UL-94 test standard and more uniform char granules were acquired.The addition of MCA compounded with 2-carboxyethyl(phenylphosphinic) acid(CEPPA) imparted N-P synergistic flame retardant effect to PET.