Synergy between conventional phosphorus fire retardants and organically-modified clays can lead to fire retardancy of styrenics

Polystyrene-clay nanocomposites combined with phosphorous-containing fire retardants have been prepared and used to explore the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the polymer formed. The amounts of fire retardants and clay used were varied to study the effect of each on thermal stability and mechanical properties of the polymer. The samples were prepared by bulk polymerization and analyzed by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, cone calorimetry, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy and the evaluation of mechanical properties. The thermal stability of the polymers is enhanced by the presence of the phosphorus-containing fire retardants. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.