WHICH MORPHOLOGY FOR NANOCOMPOSITES FR ?

摘要

The properties of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites were shown to depend on morphology of clay dispersion in the polymer matrix. Fire retardance being associated to clay layers accumulation on the surface of the burning specimen to provide a protective inorganic skin, will depend on competition between polymer ablation by thermal decomposition to combustible volatiles and layers reassembling to the clay crystalline structure. The rate of clay reassembling and therefore FR effectiveness is likely to depend on the nanocomposite morphology. The question is on whether the morphology at room temperature is the same that will be present in the outer layer exposed to flame during polymer burning. Results on morphology assessment in lamellar nanocomposites and its temperature dependence in relation to fire retardance is discussed considering three different polymer-silicates systems.