BFRL ICON Flammability Properties of Polymer-Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites, Polypropylene and Polystyrene Nanocomposites.


pdf icon Flammability Properties of Polymer-Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites, Polypropylene and Polystyrene Nanocomposites. (1688 K)
Gilman, J. W.; Jackson, C. L.; Morgan, A. B.; Harris, R. H., Jr.; Manias, E.; Giannelis, E. P.; Wuthenow, M.; Hilton, D.; Phillips, S. H.

Chemistry of Materials, Vol. 12, No. 7, 1866-1873, July 17, 2000.

Sponsor:

Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC

Keywords:

nanocomposites; polypropylene; polystyrene; flammability; thermal stability; flammability measurements; cone calorimeters

Abstract:

Our continuing study of the mechanism of flammability reduction of polymer-layered-silicate nanocomposites has yielded results for polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride and polystyrene-layered-silicate nanocomposites using montmorillonite and fluorohectorite. Cone calorimetry was used to measure the heat release rate and other flammability properties of the nanocomposites, under well-controlled combustion conditions. Bath the polymer-layered-silicate nanocompasites and the combustion residues were studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. We have found evidence for a common mechanism of flammability reduction. We also found that the type of layered silicate, nanodispersion, and processing degradation have an influence on the flammability reduction.



Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899