Preparation and burning behaviors of flame retarding biodegradable poly (lactic acid) nanocomposite based on zinc aluminum layered double hydroxide

A flame retarding biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite based on flame retardant composites (containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP), pentaerythritol (PER) and melamine cyanurate (MC) by controlling the weight ratio was 2:2:1) and organomodified zinc aluminum layered double hydroxide (Zn-Al-LDH) has been prepared by melt-compounding directly. The morphology and burning behaviour of nanocomposite with 2 wt% Zn-Al-LDH loadings were investigated. The extent of dispersion of LDH was quantified by wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), illuminating the good dispersion state for ZnAl-LDH in the PIA matrix. Significant improvements in fire retardant performance were observed for the nanocomposite from microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) and cone calorimetry (reducing both the heat release rate and the total heat released). It revealed that incorporation of FR and ZnAl-LDH was very efficient in improving the flame retardance of PEA composite. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.