Preparation and characterization of flame retardant ABS/montmorillonite nanocomposite

Flame retardant acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by direct melt intercalation of ABS, organophilic clay and conventional fire retardants (decabromodiphenyl oxide (DB) and antimony oxide (AO)). Morphology and flammability properties were characterized by X-ray power diffractionmeter (XRD), high resolution electron microscopy (HREM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), limiting oxygen index (LOI) test, UL-94 test and cone calorimeter experiments. The fire retardant nanocomposites with DB and AO showed lower heat release rate (HRR) peak and higher LOI than that of conventional fire retardant ABS. A chemical mechanism for this improvement is proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.