Synergistic effect of nickel formate on the thermal and flame‐retardant properties of polypropylene

Nickel formate was used as a catalyst to improve the flame‐retardancy of intumescent systems based on ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and pentaerythritol (petol) in polypropylene (PP). Limited oxygen index (LOI), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the fire‐retardancy and thermal stability of the PP system and the microstructure of the burned residue. The catalytic effect was shown in an increase in LOI, and a change in the residue microstructure and the thermal stability of the PP system. LOI increased with the concentration of the catalyst in the range 0.1–5 wt% of the composition until a maximum was reached. At higher concentration of the catalyst a decrease in the LOI was observed.