Flammability of nano silicon dioxide–wood fiber–polyethylene composites

Nano silicon dioxide–wood fiber–high-density polyethylene composites were prepared to investigate the effects of nano silicon dioxide content (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt%) on the relationship between flammability and mechanical properties of the wood fiber–high-density polyethylene composites in this study. Cone calorimentry analysis showed that the addition of nano silicon dioxide could decrease the heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release of the wood fiber–high-density polyethylene composites. Most of the decrease of the heat release rate occurred with 8 wt% nano silicon dioxide. With addition of nano silicon dioxide, the composites showed an increase in the mechanical properties, and the tensile and flexural strength showed highest value with 8 wt% nano SiO2. The scanning electron microscopy observation on the fracture surface of the composites indicated that nano silicon dioxide had a uniform dispersion in the wood fiber–high-density polyethylene composites with increasing nano SiO2 from 2 to 8 wt%. The better mechanical characteristics had a positive effect on the fire retardancy of the composites.