Thermal and Flammability Properties of a Silica-Poly(methylmethacrylate) Nanocomposite.
Thermal and Flammability Properties of a
Silica-Poly(methylmethacrylate) Nanocomposite.
(798 K)
Kashiwagi, T.; Morgan, A. B.; Antonucci, J. M.;
VanLandingham, M. R.; Harris, R. H., Jr.; Awad, W. H.;
Shields, J. R.
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 89, No. 8,
2072-2078, 2003.
Keywords:
polymethyl methacrylate; nanocomposites; thermal
properties; flammability
Abstract:
MMA, poly(metheylmethacrylate), nanocomposites were made
by in situ radical polymerization of MMA,
methylmethacrylate, with colloidal silica (ca. 12 nm) to
study the effects of nanoscale silica particles on the
physical properties and flammability properties of PMMA.
Transparent samples resulted and the dispersity of the
particles was examined by TEM and AFM. The addition of
nanosilica particles (13% by mass) did not significantly
change the thermal stability, but it made a small
improvement in modulus, and it reduced the peak heat
release rate roughly 50%. Finally, we discuss the flame
retardant mechanism provided by the addition of
nanosilica particles in PMMA is discussed.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899