Flammability of Polymer-Clay and Polymer-Silica Nanocomposites

Abstract

A comprehensive discussion on the flammability of organic-inorganic nano-composites is presented based on different fire testing methods. Based on various flammability tests, reduced peak heat release rate, an increased oxygen index, and an enhanced thermal stability were observed, while faster burning rates were found when the nanocomposites underwent horizontal and vertical burning tests. Moreover, it has also been found that when traditional flame-retardant additives were added to the nanocomposites, less additive was required to achieve the same level of flame retardancy.