Polymer-Carbon Nanotube Composites

24

Polymer–carbon nanotube composites for flame-retardant cable applications

G. Beyer,     Kabelwerk Eupen AG, Belgium

Abstract:

This chapter describes multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as very efficient flame retardants at low filler contents in ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). An optimized formulation for flame-retardant insulated wires was developed based on the filler-blend ‘multi-walled carbon nanotubes–organoclays–aluminium trihydrate’. The char was improved and strengthened by the long length/diameter ratio of the MWCNTs, resulting in better flameretardant performances of the wires.

Key words

aluminium trihydrate

cables

carbon nanotubes

char formation

flame-retardancy

organoclays

24.1 Introduction

Fire hazards are mainly the ...