Flammability properties of polymer - Layered-silicate nanocomposites. Polypropylene and polystyrene nanocomposites

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 mon tmorillonite 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-silic ate nanocomposites and the combustion residues were studied by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. We have found evidence for a co mmon mechanism of flammability reduction. We also found that the type of la yered silicate, nanodispersion, and processing degradation have an influenc e on the flammability reduction.