Thermogravimetric behavior of mesoporous hydrated silica-alumina trihydrate hybrid powder synthesized by sol-gel/doping method

• Main Authors: Abd. Halim, Zulhelmi Alif, Mat Yajid, Muhammad Azizi, Ahmad, Norhayati
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier B.V. 2023
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/105586/; http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2023.134600

Thermal degradation of mesoporous hydrated silica (MHS), mesoporous silica (MS), and alumina trihydrate (ATH) hybrid systems for flame retardant materials was investigated. The hybrid powders (contains 64 wt% of ATH) were created by doping ATH particles into a silica sol using the typical sol–gel technique with rice husk as a silica precursor. MHS-ATH has 3% more water by weight, three times lower density (0.9 g/cm3), 37 times larger surface area (186.88 m2/g), and enhanced powder flowability as compared to standard ATH. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) study reveals that MHS-ATH has higher thermal stability than ATH, with more water released gradually over a wider temperature range, improving the flame retardancy effect. MHS was also compared with its dehydrated form (MS), but TGA studies suggest that MS-ATH has lower thermal stability due to the powder's tendency to absorb moisture.