Bio-based polyamide 1010 was melt-compounded with different percentages (2.5 to 10.0 wt.%) of expandable graphite (EGr) as an environmentally friendly solution to improve the flame retardancy properties. The mechanical, morphological, thermal and fire retardancy properties (among others) are analysed. The novelty of the article lies in the use of fully removable polyamide. The effect of the incorporation of EGr in the properties of this polymer was analysed and characterised. The incorporation of EGr into the PA1010 matrix led to very promising results. Mechanically, the EGr provided increased stiffness and a tensile strength up to 7.5 wt.%, verifying good mechanical performance. The DMTA results also show how the incorporation of EGr in the PA1010 matrix clearly increases the stiffness of the composites over the entire temperature range analysed. In terms of physical properties, water absorption of PA1010 was reduced particularly in the 10% EGr, which reduces the water absorption of PA1010 by 20%. In terms of flame retardant properties, with the incorporation of EGr, a significant reduction in the heat release rate (HRR) values as the concentration of the additive increases and a reduction in the maximum peak heat release rate (pHRR) can be observed for all compounds. In particular, it goes from 934 kW/m2 for neat polyamide to a value of 374 kW/m2 with 10% EGr. Finally, an improvement in the UL-94 rating of the 7.5 and 10% EGr composites was also observed, going from V-2 in the PA to V-1 in these composites.
Keywords: PA1010; environmentally friendly composites; expandable graphite; flame retardant; mechanical properties.