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Cone calorimeter analysis of flame retardant poly (methyl methacrylate)-silica nanocomposites

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Abstract

Nanocomposite is a promising method to reduce fire hazards of polymers. Specifically due to increased interfacial area between polymer and nanofillers, polymer nanocomposites have an advantage in reducing fire hazards efficiently even when the flame retardant additives are at a concentration of 5 mass% or less. In theory, crosslinking between the polymer chains can create a carbon-dense structure to enhance char formation, which can further promote the flame retardancy. However, little research has been done to explore the flammability of crosslinking polymer nanocomposites with a low concentration of nanosilica particles. In this study, crosslinked and non-crosslinked poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites of a low concentration of nanosilica particles have been prepared via an in situ method. Their fire properties were tested by using the cone calorimeter at the heat flux of 50 kW m−2. Although silica-containing flame retardants tend to negatively affect the ignitability and soot production especially at a high concentration, through the condensed phase mechanism, the samples of high loading rate of nanosilica particles show better fire retardancy performance in the aspect of flammability, including decreased heat release rate, mass loss rate, and total heat release. Additionally, crosslinking indeed attributes to the less intensive combustion of crosslinked PMMA samples, especially at a low concentration of nanosilica. The combination of nanosilica particles with the modification of the internal structure of the polymer nanocomposites might be a good strategy to improve fire retardancy.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under CBET-1336254 and CBET-1336162. Authors are also grateful for the financial support from the Dale F. Janes Endowed Professorship at Oklahoma State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fire Protection and Safety, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Ruiqing Shen, Robert J. Agnew & Qingsheng Wang

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Ruiqing Shen & Qingsheng Wang

  3. Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Logan C. Hatanaka, Lubna Ahmed & M. Sam Mannan

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  1. Ruiqing Shen
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  2. Logan C. Hatanaka
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  6. Qingsheng Wang
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Correspondence to Qingsheng Wang.

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Shen, R., Hatanaka, L.C., Ahmed, L. et al. Cone calorimeter analysis of flame retardant poly (methyl methacrylate)-silica nanocomposites. J Therm Anal Calorim 128, 1443–1451 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-6070-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-6070-x

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