- Author
- Kashiwagi, T. | Morgan, A. B. | Antonucci, J. M. | VanLandingham, M. R. | Harris, R. H., Jr. | Awad, W. H. | Shields, J. R.
- Title
- Thermal and Flammability Properties of a Silica-Poly(methylmethacrylate) Nanocomposite.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Journal
- Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol. 89, No. 8, 2072-2078, 2003
- Keywords
- polymethyl methacrylate | nanocomposites | thermal properties | flammability
- Abstract
- PMMA, poly(metheylmethacrylate), nanocomposites were made by in situ radical polymerization of MMA, methylmethacrylate, with colloidal silica (ca. 12 nm) to study the effects of nanoscale silica particles on the physical properties and flammability properties of PMMA. Transparent samples resulted and the dispersity of the particles was examined by TEM and AFM. The addition of nanosilica particles (13% by mass) did not significantly change the thermal stability, but it made a small improvement in modulus, and it reduced the peak heat release rate roughly 50%. Finally, we discuss the flame retardant mechanism provided by the addition of nanosilica particles in PMMA is discussed.