Ignition of polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites

This paper addresses the flaming ignition of polypropylene and polypropylene-based nanoclay composites, under irradiation in a cone calorimeter. The surface temperature as a function of time was measured using thermocouples on the surface and the chemical changes occurring in the polymer leading to evolution of volatiles were studied by means of spectroscopic analyses of the surface. Thermogravimetric analyses were also carried out to study thermal and thermoxidative volatilization at variable heating rates, which correlate to the production of the critical concentration of combustible volatiles for ignition. The effect of both microdispersed and intercalated nanoclays on ignition time and ignition temperature is addressed and analysed in details. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.