Synergy between organo-bentonite and nanofillers for polymer based fire retardant applications

We report the preparation of a new family of nanocomposites based on the combination of two nanofillers, organo-bentonite and inorganic fillers like fumed silica nanoparticles, aluminium hydroxide microparticles and sepiolite. The morphology of the nanocomposites depended on both the preparation method and the used nanofiller. This procedure allows incorporating nanofillers that usually could not be used in the processing of polymer based materials because of their high surface reactivity that provokes agglomeration. In polyamide 6 synergetic effects between the clay mineral and the second nanofiller were observed. The preparation method determines the thermo-mechanical and fire retardant properties of the final nanocomposites. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.