Politecnico di Torino
Alberto Frache, Politecnico di Torino, presented investigations into flame retardancy of highly filled plastics, in particular polypropylene.
He tested different combinations of calcium carbonate, talc and magnesium hydroxide, concluding that intumescent flame retardants can be incompatible with calcium carbonate, and that magnesium hydroxide can improve the mechanical properties and material stability. Also, PPM-triazine can be used to replace a part of the filler, with comparable mechanical and fire retardant properties. Finally he stressed the importance of studying the mechanisms of interaction between FR and fillers.