Fire-retardant plastic material from Oyster-shell powder and recycled polyethylene

Abstract

A series of plastic materials from recycled polyethylene (PE) and oyster-shell powder were prepared to test their fire-retardant properties with an aim of finding a practical way of waste recycling. Oyster-shell powder was found to be mainly composed of calcium carbonate and it decomposed to calcium oxide and carbon dioxide at temperature higher than ∼800°C, thus preventing fire from access of oxygen by the produced carbon dioxide. This fire-retardation mechanism is environmental-friendly, since another available method, the inclusion of halogen-containing compounds, normally generates toxic chemicals like dioxine during incineration. To improve mechanical properties of this composite material, surface of oyster-shell powder was coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Flame retardation and the mechanical properties of these composite resins were analyzed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.