A new strategy for simultaneously improved flame retardancy, thermal properties, and scratch resistance of transparent poly(methyl methacrylate)

Saihua Jiang, Guohua Chen, Yuan Hu, Zhou Gui*, Zhijia Hu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A novel poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based nanocomposite combined with a reactive flame retardant (tetramethyl (3-(triethoxysilyl) propyl-azanediyl) bis(methylene) diphosphonate (TMSAP)) and organo-modified layered aluminophosphate (OLAP) was synthesized by the sol-gel method. The structure of the nanocomposite achieves maximal integration of both merits of each component, such as silane cross-linking function and dehydration charring effect of TMSAP and physical barrier effect and catalytic-charring effect of OLAP, which promotes cross-linked network formation, improves the quality and quantity of char, and inhibits the heat, oxygen, and mass transfer, leading to significant enhancements of scratch resistance, thermal stability, and flame retardancy. Compared to PMMA, the nanocomposites maintain high transparency and exhibit increased shore hardness by 90%, glass transition temperature by 13 °C, and half degradation temperature by 105.1 °C; in addition, peak heat released rate decreased by 59.1%. This work demonstrates the simultaneous enhancement of flame retardancy, thermal properties, and mechanical performance of polymers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4737-4747
Number of pages11
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume54
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2015

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