Journal
POLYMER DEGRADATION AND STABILITY
Volume 94, Issue 8, Pages 1290-1297Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2009.03.021
Keywords
Nanocomposites; Layered double hydroxides; Fire retardancy; Polystyrene
Categories
Funding
- National Institute of Standards and Technology [60NANB6D6018]
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Polystyrene/layered double hydroxides (PS/LDHs) nanocomposites were prepared by free radical polymerization of styrene monomer in the presence of LDHs intercalated with 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoate) anions (LDH-ACPA). XRD and ATR-IR are used to confirm that the materials produced are layered and the presence of the azo-initiator anions in these LDHs. These LDHs were used successfully to polymerize styrene and both XRD and TEM images of the composites support the formation of a mixed exfoliated-intercalated nanocomposite for ZnAl-ACPA but a microcomposite for MgAI-ACPA. The magnesium-containing LDHs decreased the glass transition temperature (T-g) of the composites while ZnAl-ACPA did not affect T-g significantly. The T-g depression is related to enhanced polymer dynamics due to the extra free volume at the LDH additive-polymer interface. A reduction in the onset of thermal decomposition temperature was observed in PS/LDH compared to neat PS, likely due to the early decomposition of the LDH. The fire performance, as evaluated by the cone calorimeter, reveal that PS-ZnAl-ACPA shows enhanced fire properties compared to PS-MgAl-ACPA. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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