Microencapsulation of APP‐I and influence of microencapsulated APP‐I on microstructure and flame retardancy of PP/APP‐I/PER composites

In this article, the microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate crystalline with form I (APP‐I) coated with melamine‐formaldehyde (MF) was prepared by in situ polymerization. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG) energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrate that APP‐I is successfully microencapsulated with MF. Compared with APP‐I, the microencapsulated APP‐I with MF (MFAPP‐I) is of much smaller spheroidal particle size and lower solubility in water. In this study, the polypropylene (PP)/APP‐I/penpaerythritol (PER) and PP/MFAPP‐I/PER composites are prepared, and flame retardancy, thermal stability, and microstructure of corresponding composites are carefully investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 testing, TG, EDS, and SEM. Experimental results show that PP/MFAPP‐I/PER composites have advantages over PP/APP‐I/PER composites in terms of flame retardant properties and water resistance. Results of TG, SEM, and EDS show that the microencapsulated APP‐I with MF resin is conducive to increase the amount of residual yield and improve thermal stability of PP/MFAPP‐I/PER composites and the compatibility and dispersion of MFAPP‐I. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013