Nonflammable Alginate Nanocomposite Aerogels Prepared by a Simple Freeze-Drying and Post-Cross-Linking Method

Abstract

Nonflammable materials based on renewable ammonium alginate and nano fillers (nanoscale magnesium hydroxide, nanoscale aluminum hydroxide, layered double hydroxide, sodium montmorillonite, and Kaolin) were fabricated through a simple, environmentally friendly freeze-drying process, in which water was used as a solvent. A simple and economic post-cross-linking method was used to obtain homogeneous samples. The microstructure of the cross-linked alginate aerogels show three-dimensional networks. These materials exhibit low densities (0.064-0.116 g cm(-3)), low thermal conductivities (0.024-0.046 W/m K), and useful mechanical strengths (0.7-3.5 MPa). The aerogels also exhibit high thermal stabilities and achieve inherent nonflammability with limiting oxygen indexes (LOI) higher than 60. Related properties were conducted and analyzed by cone calorimeter (CC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results combine to suggest promising prospects for use of these aerogel nanocomposites in a range of applications.