Nanoparticle Networks Reduce the Flammability of Polymer Nanocomposites.

Published

December 1, 2005

Author(s)

Takashi Kashiwagi, F Du, J F. Douglas, K I. Winey, Richard H. Harris Jr., John R. Shields

Abstract

Synthetic polymeric materials are rapidly replacing more traditional inorganic materials, such as metals, and natural polymeric materials, such as wood. As these synthetic materials are flammable, they require modifications to decrease their flammability through the addition of flame-retardant compounds. Environmental regulation has restricted the use of some halogenated flame-retardant additives, initiating a search for alternative flame-retardant additives. Nanoparticle fillers are highly attractive for this purpose, because they can simultaneously improve both the physical and flammability properties of the polymer nanocomposite. We show that carbon nanotubes can surpass nanoclays as effective flame-retardant additives if they form a jammed network structure in the polymer matrix, such that the material as a whole behaves rheologically like a gel. We find this kind of network formation for a variety of highly extended carbon-based nanoparticles: single- and multiwalled nanotubes, as well as carbon nanofibres.

Citation

Nature Materials

Volume

4

Issue

12

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

nanocomposites, flammability, polymers, nanoparticles, flame retardants, regulations, flame retardant additives, fillers, polymethyl methacrylate, mass loss

Citation

Kashiwagi, T. , Du, F. , Douglas, J. , Winey, K. , Harris, R. and Shields, J. (2005), Nanoparticle Networks Reduce the Flammability of Polymer Nanocomposites., Nature Materials, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=101161 (Accessed October 27, 2025)