Optimization of the addition ratio of brucite powder: balancing the flame retardancy and flexibility of aluminum-plastic panels

With the increasing demand for material performance in the construction industry, how to further enhance the flame retardancy and flexibility of aluminum-plastic panels while ensuring their excellent appearance and mechanical properties has become a common challenge faced by researchers and enterprises. As a natural mineral additive, brucite powder has shown great potential in improving the performance of aluminum-plastic panels due to its unique physical and chemical properties.

1、 Introduction

Aluminum plastic panel, as one of the important materials for modern architectural decoration, is widely used due to its advantages of light weight, beauty, and ease of processing. However, traditional aluminum-plastic panels have certain limitations in terms of flame retardancy and flexibility. In order to meet stricter safety standards and usage requirements, researchers have begun exploring various improvement schemes, among which adding functional fillers such as brucite powder is considered an effective approach. Magnesite powder not only significantly improves the flame retardancy of materials, but also has the function of adjusting the coefficient of thermal expansion. However, excessive addition may affect the flexibility of materials. Therefore, finding the appropriate addition ratio is crucial.

2、 Basic characteristics and mechanism of action of brucite powder

Brucite, mainly composed of magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH) ₂), is a white or light colored natural mineral. When it decomposes at high temperatures, it releases crystalline water, absorbs a large amount of heat, and thus has a flame retardant effect. In addition, brucite powder also has good insulation and sound insulation properties, as well as a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

When brucite powder is added to the plastic core material of aluminum-plastic panels, it can enhance the material's fire resistance without sacrificing its basic properties. Meanwhile, an appropriate amount of brucite powder can also improve the dimensional stability of the material and reduce deformation problems caused by temperature changes. However, if the addition ratio is not appropriate, it may cause the material to become brittle, affecting its flexibility and processing performance.

3、 Experimental design and result analysis

In order to determine the optimal addition ratio of brucite powder, a series of experiments were designed and implemented. These experiments include but are not limited to:

Flame retardant performance testing under different addition ratios: evaluating the effect of brucite powder content on the limit oxygen index (LOI) of aluminum-plastic panels;

Flexibility evaluation: Evaluate the flexibility of materials through bending tests, impact strength tests, and other methods;

Comprehensive performance evaluation: Based on actual application scenarios, comprehensively evaluate the weather resistance, processing performance, etc. of the material.

The experimental results show that with the increase of the amount of brucite powder added, the flame retardant performance of aluminum-plastic panels has indeed been significantly improved, and the ultimate oxygen index gradually increases. However, when the amount added exceeds a certain threshold, the material begins to become stiff and prone to fracture, indicating a decrease in flexibility. This means that there is an ideal range of additives that can maximize the flame retardant advantages of brucite powder while maintaining the necessary flexibility of the material.

Specifically, when the addition ratio of brucite powder is controlled between 5% and 10%, aluminum-plastic panels exhibit excellent comprehensive performance - both good flame retardant effect and appropriate flexibility. This provides valuable reference for actual production.

4、 Application Examples and Market Prospects

At present, some enterprises have started to adopt optimized brucite powder addition schemes for aluminum-plastic panel production, and have achieved good feedback in the market. This type of product not only meets higher fire safety standards, but also is favored by architects and designers due to its good flexibility and processing performance.

For example, in some high-rise building exterior wall decoration projects, aluminum-plastic panels containing an appropriate amount of brucite powder are used, which not only enhances the overall fire safety of the building, but also ensures smooth and natural exterior lines, achieving a perfect combination of aesthetics and functionality.

With the increasing emphasis on the safety and environmental protection of building materials, it is expected that the market demand for this optimized aluminum-plastic panel will continue to grow in the coming years. Technological innovation will also drive the research and application of more high-performance composite materials, injecting new vitality into the industry's development.

By carefully adjusting the proportion of brucite powder added, the flame retardant performance of aluminum-plastic panels can be significantly improved without affecting their basic characteristics, while maintaining sufficient flexibility. Research has shown that controlling the amount of brucite powder added within the range of 5% -10% can achieve the most balanced performance of the product.