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Clay‐Catalyzed Cracking Leads to Suppressed Flammability in Clay–Polyolefin Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Kunkel Bryanna M.,
Peoples Brian C.,
Yung Cathleen M.,
Scott Susannah L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201100124
Subject(s) - polyolefin , materials science , nanocomposite , flammability , thermal stability , organoclay , composite material , cone calorimeter , polystyrene , thermal decomposition , in situ polymerization , char , polymer , chemical engineering , polymerization , pyrolysis , organic chemistry , chemistry , layer (electronics) , engineering
Organoclay–polyolefin nanocomposites have been shown to exhibit slightly increased thermal stability and decreased flammability, compared to unfilled polyolefins. In contrast, we find that when the clay has not been organically modified, the resulting polyolefin nanocomposites are less thermally stable and, unexpectedly, also much less flammable. In this contribution, we investigate the mechanistic origins of these effects. Clay–polyolefin nanocomposites were prepared by in situ polymerization of ethylene or propylene, using a catalyst adsorbed onto the clay. Decreased thermal stability is attributed to clay‐catalyzed polymer decomposition, while decreased flammability arises in part from clay‐catalyzed formation of a polyaromatic char from olefins trapped in the material by the dispersed nanofiller.