A comparison of the fire retardancy of poly(methyl methacrylate) using montmorillonite, layered double hydroxide and kaolinite

Montmorillonite, layered double hydroxide and kaolinite, have been used to make (nano)composites with poly(methyl methacrylate). X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology and the thermal stability and fire Properties have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. The results show that LDH and MMT are better dispersed in PMMA than is kaolinite; the MMT layers have a higher aspect ratio than does the LDH. PMMA + MMT and PMMA + LDH composites have higher thermal stability than PMMA + kaolinite composite. The peak of heat release rate reduction is 55% for the PMMA + MMT composite at 10%, 45% for PMMA + LDH and 23% for PMMA-kaolinite. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.