Abstract

Wood - plastic composites (WPCs) represent a growing class of materials used in the residential construction industry and the furniture industry. However, WPCs are extremely flammable materials. There is a need to improve the flame resistance of the wood-flour/poly(vinyl chloride) composite (WF-PVC). The effect of triphenylphosphate (TPP) on flammable, thermal and mechanical properties of the studied composite was determined. V-0 rating is achieved at 2.5 wt % loading of TPP and the LOI value is 25. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results reveal that the presence of TPP generates an amount of volatiles which are radical capturing species and actively quench the flame. In comparison with WPC, the modulus and strength values of WF-PVC/TPP increase by 10.2 % and 1.8 %, respectively. The above results show that the flame retardancy of WF-PVC could be enhanced remarkably by using TPP flame retardant.