Skip to main content

NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Reduced Flammability of Polyurethane Foam Using a Carbon Nanofiber-based Multilayer Nanocoating

Published

Author(s)

Yeon S. Kim, Rick D. Davis, Jaime C. Grunlan, Amanda A. Cain

Abstract

For the first time, Layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies made with carbon nanofiber (CNFs) are shown to improve the fire performance of polyurethane foam. The (359 ± 36) nm thick four bilayer coating of polyethyleneimine/CNF (cationic layer) and poly(acrylic acid) (anionic layer) contains (51 ± 1) mass fraction % CNFs. This coating completely covers the entire internal and external surfaces of the porous foam. Even though the microscopic CNF distribution was non-uniform, the macroscopic CNF network armor that was generated from this LbL process significantly reduced the flammability of the foam (55% ± 6% reduction in total heat release and peak heat release rate). This reduction is 50% better than previously reported for CNF-filled foam and 12% to 47% greater than the other most commonly used technologies for reducing foam flammability.
Citation
Polymer

Keywords

Layer-by-layer assembly, thin films, carbon nanofibers, polyurethane foam, Cone Calorimetry, flammability, soft furnishings

Citation

Kim, Y. , Davis, R. , Grunlan, J. and Cain, A. (2011), Reduced Flammability of Polyurethane Foam Using a Carbon Nanofiber-based Multilayer Nanocoating, Polymer, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=906819 (Accessed October 7, 2025)

Issues

If you have any questions about this publication or are having problems accessing it, please contact [email protected].

Created April 10, 2011, Updated February 19, 2017
Was this page helpful?