The use of flame-retardant additives in natural and chloroprene rubbers

The flammability of polymers has been receiving much attention, in particular the corrosiveness and toxicity of smoke and other emission products generated during combustion. The aim of this study was to investigate the flammability behaviour and mechanical properties of natural rubber (NR) and chloroprene rubber (CR) with various flame retardants (FR) added. The processing and vulcanization of the NR and CR gum compounds was studied. Initial studies were carried out with a mixture of antimony oxide (ATO) and decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBBO). Other types of FR used in NR were aluminium hydroxide (ATH) and chlorinated paraffin (CP). Recent developments in more cost-effective tin-based fire retardants, zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS), in halogen compositions and halogen-free compositions, were also investigated. [Continues.]