Research on Flame Retardancy and Combustion Characteristics of PE and PE-MH-NC Cable Materials

In this paper, we have prepared three kinds cable materials based on the mixing of PE powders and Mg(OH)2 powders. The pyrolysis process of PE, PE-MH and PE-MH-NC is analyzed by thermogravimetric experiment. The results of thermogravimetric experiment show that adding Mg(OH)2 powers or the modified Mg(OH)2 powders to PE can reduce the weight loss rate, and the percentage of residual mass of PE-MH and PE-MH-NC are 25.51% and 26.79%, while there are no residues after combusition of PE. The maximum heat release rate of PE-MH-NC decreases by 43.04% and the maximum smoke production rate of PE-MH-NC decreases by 11% than PE. The combustion characteristics of PE and PE-MH are analyzed by the cone calorimeter experiment. The results of cone calorimeter experiment show the maximum CO and CO2 production rate of PE-MH-NC decreases by 52% and 40.8%. It indicated that the effect of smoke suppressor about PE-MH-NC was remarkable through the cone calorimetry test, and its flame retardant performance was the best which satisfy many requirements of the flame retardant cable material.