Preparation of Zn-Al hydrotalcite and its modification with sodium dodecyl sulfate and 2-carboxyethyl phenyl phosphinic acid

Zn-Al hydrotalcites were prepared by coprecipitation method with the Zn/Al molar ratio of 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-carboxyethyl phenyl phosphinic acid (CEPPA) were adopted to modify hydrotalcite by coprecipitation method. The structure of Zn-Al hydrotalcites and the modified ones were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). XRD results indicated that the layered structure of Zn-Al hydrotalcites was influenced by the Zn/Al molar ratio. The Absorption peaks of Organic groups were observed in FT-IR Spectroscopy of SDS-LDH and CEPPA-LDH, which proved successfully synthesis of SDS modified LDH and CEPPA modified LDH. The SEM and EDS results confirmed the existence of SDS and CEPPA in the modified products, which are consistent with FT-IR results. The successful intercalation of SDS and CEPPA increased the interlayer space of LDH, which makes modified LDH promising and preferable as flame retardants in nanocomposites.