Technical Information

1. Types of Maglux
2. Technical information of Maglux
2-1. Chemical Composition
2-2. Dehydration
2-3. Shape and Dispersion in plastics
3. Special Properties in Plastic Compound
3-1. Polypropylene
3-2. Polyethylene
3-3. Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate
3-4. Ethylene-vinyl Acetate
3-5. Ethylene-propylene Rubber

Remarks: This technical information is based on the actual experimental value for the customer's reference and not guaranteed performance of "Maglux".

1.The Type of Maglux

"Maglux" is micronized and surface treated natural mineral "Brucite", that contains mainly Magnesium Hydroxide. For the customers various requirements and for the type of plastics, some type of surfactant is available.

2.Technical information

2-1. Characteristic of Maglux

Perticle distribution of "Maglux ST"

Particle diameter in micron

2-2. Dehydration

"Maglux" has nearly the same dehydraion-characteristic (dehydration temperature, the rate of dehydration and endotherm value) of the commercial magnesium hydroxide from sea-water.

TG/DTA diagram

Maglux (A) and commercial magnesium hydroxide from sea-water (F)

2-3. Shape and Dispersion in plastics

SEM (scanning electron microscope)

Maglux ST (X1,000)




Fracture plane of polypropylene compound (X1,000)




Fracture plane of polypropylene compound (X3,000)




Fracture plane of Ethylene-vinyl Acetate compound (X1,000)




Fracture plane of Ethylene-propylene Rubber (X1,000)

All fracture plane observations are executed after freezing of plastic-compound

3. Special Properties in Plastic Compound
The method of experiments are follows,

O2-Index
JIS K7201-2
The form of test piece: type IV
Ignition: from the top
Laboratory condition:23 deg. 50%RH
Measurement: Oxygen concentration control in every 0.2%

Melt Flow Rate(MFR)
JIS K7210

EVA, EEA, LDPE:
Test temp.:190 deg.
Test load :2.16 kgf

PP
Test temp.:230 deg.
Test load :2.16 kgf

Tensile strength(Yield Strength, Tensile Strength, Maximal Elongation)
JIS K 7161
Type of test piece: 1B-type
Tensile velocity:50 mm/min

Visual test
SEM (scanning electron microscope)

3-1 Polypropylene

Low-Density polyethylene (LDPE)
Block-type melting point:163deg. Density:0.9
MFR[230deg. 2.16kgf]:0.7
Composition:PP(100),Flame Retardants(120),Calcium  Stearate(1)

Characteristic of Polypropylene-Compound

3-2. Polyethylene (PE)
Straight-chain type (LDPE)
Melting point:122deg Density:0.924 MFR[190deg 2.16kgf]:0.85
Compounding:PE(100), Flame retardants(120), Calcium Stearate　C(1)

Characteristic of Low dencity Polyethylene-Compound

3-3. Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate (EEA)
Ratio of co-monomer:15% Melting point:100deg.
MFR[190deg. 2.16kgf]:0.75
Compounding：EEA(100), Flame retardants(120), Calcium stearate(1)

Characteristic of Ethylene Ethyl Acrylate Compound

3-4. Ethylene-vinyl Acetate (EVA)
Ratio of co-monomer:15%  Melting point：88deg. MFR[230deg. 2.16kgf]:2.0
Compounding: EVA(100), Flame retardants(120), Calcium stearate(1)

Characteristic of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Compound

3-5. Ethylene-propylene Rubber (EPR)
Composition: Ethylene 61wt%, Propylene 33wt%, END 6wt%
Compounding: EPR(100), Flame retardants(120), Calcium stearate(1), Stearic acid(1), Sulfur(1.5), Zinc oxide(5), TMTM(1.5), MBT(0.5)
Vulcanization:160deg. 30min.

Characteristic of Ethylene-Propylene Rubber Compound

(Remarks)

Supplemental remarks to technical information about “MAGLUX”

1. “Technical information” is based on the actual experiment. Each plastic resin is selected from a standard series, which can be widely found in the market. At first each resin was mixed with a flame retardant, a lubricant, which we use Calcium Stearate , and so on. A 2-roll machine was used for the mixing operation and a specimen with 2mm thickness was prepared.

2. The purpose of this experiment is finding out a difference between MAGLUX and a famous flame retardant from sea-water.

3. The surfactant loadings is 1%wt by MK-Type and by other types is 2%wt.

4.. The comparison MAGLUX vs. Flame retardant from sea-water, according to our experiments.

Now we supply only ST type, with stearic acid surface treated..

In short:

(1). O2-Index is MAGLUX is better or nearly same to the competitor.

(2). Strength is MAGLUX is better or nearly same to the competitor.

(3). MFR-value is the competitor is better or nearly same to MAGLUX.

Reasons:

Perhaps the diameter and form of particle may cause this result. MAGLUX has a diameter of 3-4 micron and BET-value of 6-8 m2/g, whereas the Competitor has a diameter of 1-2 micron and BET-value of 4-7m2/g. It means, the shape of MAGLUX far from sphere as the competitor’s, which the photo of SEM (scanning micro scope) shows. This aspheric surface gives a toughness to the materials but removes a flow properties.

Further information:

5. MAGLUX ST (with Stearic Acid surface treated)

For the application to the various compound, the ratio of stearic acid by MAGLUX ST can be varied from 1% to 3%.

6. The problem of  percentage of free water.

 Conventionally a percentage of free water by MAGLUX ST is under 0.5%, which is higher than flame retardant from sea-water, because the synthetic chemically produced flame retardant has a drying process at the end of its fabrication.

 Although MAGLUX is packed in the 3-layer with 1-layer laminated craft paper bag, CA-type and NA-type get slowly moisture in the long time, especially if they are stored in the relative higher humidity.

 Some of our users settle a dryer before kneading, even the ST-Type, which has good hydrophobic property.

7. Coloring

 Although MAGLUX has a good whiteness, it can get easy colors by some additives, for example anti-oxidizing agent.

8. The development of white flecks

 Chemically, magnesium hydroxide reacts with CO2-gas and water-content in the normal atmosphere. At the result white flecks can be found.

 This tendency is by magnesium hydroxide from sea-water is stronger.

9. Result

 There are clearly differences between MAGLUX and flame retardant from sea-water. That is why the compounding makers can not change a flame retardant from sea-water synthesized to MAGLUX without changing the blending methods. Only plastic goods manufacture, who has developed an original blending Know-How for MAGLUX, can use this flame retardant.

 To make a compound by blending and kneading is very sophisticated process and its variations are existing fast infinitely. For each manufactures Know-How of this process is one of the confidential matters.

 Therefore, the development the Know-How at the user-side must not be omitted by any means.


written by H.Komatsu,
E-Mail: komatsu-h@shinko-kogyo.co.jp