Use of nano-ATH as a multi-functional additive for poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-co-carbon monoxide)

Flame retardant aluminum hydroxide (ATH) nanoparticles of size ≈10–20 nm were dispersed in ethylene–vinyl acetate–carbon monoxide terpolymer (EVACO) via solution casting. The effect of filler loading on the crystallizability, thermal, mechanical, flammability, optical and electrical properties of EVACO was evaluated. At 1 % filler loading nano-ATH particles exhibited very good dispersibility in the EVACO matrix and the % crystallinity of EVACO is the highest at this filler loading. The changes in crystallinity were studied by X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The highest tensile strength was observed for the composite with 1 % nano-ATH loading, which has the best filler dispersion, and the decay in the tensile properties at higher filler loading is due to agglomerations of ATH nanoparticles and polymer–filler interface debonding. The UV absorption of these composites is augmented irrespective of the nano-ATH loading and ATH emerges as a good absorber of UV light. The DC electrical conductivity study of the composites proves that the addition nano-ATH is an efficient way to improve the dielectric properties of EVACO. The presence of nano-ATH improves the flame retardance of these composites.