Combined effect of fumed silica and metal hydroxides as fire retardants in PE single-polymer composites

This work aimed to study the combined effect of metal hydroxides and fumed silica in enhancing the fire-retardant properties of a polyethylene single-polymer composite. The LLDPE matrix was blended with fumed silica and aluminum or magnesium hydroxides in different weight fractions. The obtained matrices were characterized to select that with the best combination of processability, mechanical and thermal properties, and fire resistance, to produce a single-polymer composite (SPC). The current research is focusing on the selection of the processing parameters for the production of the SPC, and on the characterization of the obtained laminates.