Mechanical Properties of Flame-Retardant Huntite and Hydromagnesite-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Mechanical properties of huntite/hydromagnesite mineral reinforced polymeric composites were investigated. Phase and microstructural analysis of HM powders were undertaken using XRD and SEM-EDS prior to the fabrication of the composite materials. Minerals with different particle size and content were subsequently added to ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) to produce composite materials. Mechanical behaviour of composites were evaluated to determine tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break valuations. It was concluded that increasing particle content decreases mechanical performance, and decreasing the additive size is useful to obtain better mechanical properties.