Flammability Properties of Polymer−Layered-Silicate Nanocomposites. Polypropylene and Polystyrene Nanocomposites

TLDR

Cone calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, and X‑ray diffraction were employed to assess heat release rates and structural changes in polypropylene‑graft‑maleic anhydride and polystyrene layered‑silicate nanocomposites under controlled combustion. The study found a common mechanism of flammability reduction, with the type of layered silicate, nanodispersion, and processing degradation influencing the extent of reduction.

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. Both the polymer−layered-silicate nanocomposites 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.