Nanoparticle Networks Reduce the Flammability of Polymer Nanocomposites.
Nanoparticle Networks Reduce the Flammability of Polymer
Nanocomposites.
(603 K)
Kashiwagi, T.; Du, F.; Douglas, J. F.; Winey, K. I.;
Harris, R. H., Jr.; Shields, J. R.
Nature Materials, Vol. 4, No. 12, 928-933, December
2005.
Keywords:
nanocomposites; flammability; polymers; nanoparticles;
flame retardants; regulations; flame retardant
additives; fillers; polymethyl methacrylate; mass loss
Abstract:
Synthetic polymeric materials are rapidly replacing more
traditional inorganic materials, such as metals, and
natural polymeric materials, such as wood. As these
synthetic materials are flammable, they require
modifications to decrease their flammability through the
addition of flame-retardant compounds. Environmental
regulation has restricted the use of some halogenated
flame-retardant additives, initiating a search for
alternative flame-retardant additives. Nanoparticle
fillers are highly attractive for this purpose, because
they can simultaneously improve both the physical and
flammability properties of the polymer nanocomposite. We
show that carbon nanotubes can surpass nanoclays as
effective flame-retardant additives if they form a
jammed network structure in the polymer matrix, such
that the material as a whole behaves rheologically like
a gel. We find this kind of network formation for a
variety of highly extended carbon-based nanoparticles:
single- and multiwalled nanotubes, as well as carbon
nanofibres.
