Pure Molybdenum Trioxide

Catalog NumberACMA00023515

CategoryMolybdenum Compound

Molecular Formula	MoO3
Solubility	light soluble in water, soluble in ammonia, liquid base, hydrofluoric acid, strong vitriol.
Appearance	Light green powder/particle
Application	Used as catalyst of petroleum industry, plastic fire retardant, smelting material of molybdenum , the basic material of various high pure molybdic compound.
Bulk Density	1.0 g/cm³
Content	MoO3: 99.5%min
Packaging	25/50kg
Particle Size	pass through 60-80mesh screen

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Case Study

Molybdenum Trioxide Particles for Flame Retardant Modification of Fiber Materials

Tanaka, Takeshi, et al. Fire and Materials 40.4 (2016): 612-621.

Challenge: Improve flame resistance of modacrylic/cellulosic fabrics using a low-load solid-phase synergist.
Solution: Disperse fine molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) particles (0.14, 0.54, 1.35µm) into modacrylic/cotton blends; assess with ISO 15025 vertical flame tests and LOI; use XRF on char residues and TGA under inert/air to probe thermal behavior.
Key Results:
· Flame Testing: Fabrics with fine MoO3 show notably shorter afterflame times and higher LOI, matching Sb2O3 performance at similar loadings.
· Residue Analysis: XRF confirms Mo retention in char, indicating condensed-phase action.
· Thermal Decomposition (TGA): For modacrylic, MoO3 shifts key mass-loss onset into 600-700 K, catalyzing initial breakdown. In N2, MoO3 slows further mass loss; in air above 700 K it may aid oxidative char reactions but still yields net benefit. For cotton, degradation is delayed and carbonization enhanced, reducing volatile release.
Particle Size Note: Submicron MoO3 yields clear flame-test gains, though bulk TGA curves alone do not isolate size effects.
Conclusion: Fine MoO3 acts as an effective halogen synergist in modacrylic/cotton fabrics, promoting earlier, more stable char and suppressing cotton breakdown to hinder flame spread. While TGA alone doesn't fully capture size dependence, flame and residue analyses confirm its value.

Molybdenum Trioxide and Activated Carbon Synergy for Cost-Effective PVC Fire Safety

Zhang, Mengjiao, et al. Polymer International 67.4 (2018): 445-452.

Challenge: Enhance flame retardancy and smoke suppression in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) while reducing material costs.
Solution: Deployed molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) with activated carbon (AC) at 1:1 ratio (5 phr each) in PVC.
Key Results:
· Unmatched Fire Performance: 47.3% reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR); 59.9% lower peak smoke production rate (PSPR).
· Compact Char: MoO3 formed ultra-compact char layers with organized microstructures (SEM/Raman-verified), and AC enabled early crosslinking (73.9% gel content).
· Synergistic Advantage: Outperformed standalone additives. MoO3 alone: Less cost-efficient; AC alone: Weaker flame retardancy.
· Mechanism: MoO3 catalyzed high-integrity char via condensed-phase action. AC trapped degradation products, accelerating carbonization. Their combination created thermally stable barrier resisting 500°C combustion.
Conclusion: A 1:1 AC/MoO3 blend at 10 phr in PVC achieves substantial fire-safety gains-halved heat release and major smoke cuts-via early crosslinking and compact char formation, offering a simple, cost-effective strategy.

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