Effect of hydrotalcite on the thermal stability, mechanical properties, rheology and flame retardance of poly(vinyl chloride)

Compounds of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and hydrotalcite were prepared via melt blending, and the thermal stability, mechanical properties, rheology and flame retardance were studied. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the hydrotalcite achieved an optimal dispersion in PVC compounds when surface-treated with titanate coupling agent. The Congo Red test and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the thermal stability of PVC was improved significantly only in the presence of a complex of the hydrotalcite and the organotin stabilizer. Such a significantly positive thermal stabilizing effect was attributable to the stabilizing mechanisms that the electrostatic interaction generated between the electron cloud of chlorine atoms in PVC chain and the positive lay charge of hydrotalcite, which resulted in a decrease in electronic cloud density of chlorine atoms. This weakened the activity of chloride atoms, and restricted the initiation of the dehydrochlorination. A surface treatment for the hydrotalcite with the titanate coupling agent could reduce deterioration of the mechanical and rheological properties of the PVC at low concentration of hydrotalcite. The hydrotalcite also enabled useful application of PVC as a flame retardant as well as a smoke retarder in the light of a LOI value of more than 28.7 and UL 94 V-0 grade at a PVC/hydrotalcite weight ratio of 70/30. (C) 2004 Society of Chemical Industry.