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1768117 
Journal Article 
Influence of Flame Retardant Additives on the Flammability Behaviour of Natural Rubber (NR) 
Ismawi, D; Harper, JF; Ansarifar, A 
2008 
0 
Journal of Rubber Research
ISSN: 1511-1768
EISSN: 2524-3993 
11 
4 
223-236 
WOS:000262138600004 
A combination of decabromodiphenyl oxide (DBBO) and antimony trioxide (Sb(2)O(3)) is a widely used flame retardant system for rubber compounds. In addition to cost effectiveness, thermal and mechanical performance, halogen content is responsible for its low flammability characteristics. Nevertheless, there are concerns on the corrosiveness and toxicity of smoke and other emission products generated during the combustion of rubbers utilising these materials. Fillers such as aluminium hydroxide (ATH), organoclay and zinc hydroxystannate (ZHS) have been used as alternative halogen-free flame retardants. This paper describes the effect of these flame retardants on flammability behaviour and tensile strength of natural rubber (NR). ZHS is an alternative to (Sb(2)O(3)) because of the former's smoke suppression properties. However similar to Sb(2)O(3) it does not have flame retarding properties on its own. ZHS loaded at 20 p.p.h.r. in combination with 40 p.p.h.r chlorinated paraffin (CP) showed better flammability performance. Results from the National Bureau of Standard (NBS) smoke box showed that this compound gave lower smoke density compared to a similar compound with antimony trioxide in place of the ZHS. In general however, partial replacement Of flame retardant (FR) additives in NR compounds by ZHS produced no synergistic improvement in fire retardant behaviour 
flame retardant; natural rubber; Sb(2)O(3); aluminium hydroxide; zinc hydroxystannate; smoke density; limiting oxygen index; UL-94