- Author
- Nyden, M. R. | Gilman, J. W. | Davis, R. D. | Harris, R. H., Jr. | Awad, W. H.
- Title
- High-Throughput Approaches to Materials Flammability Research.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Distribution
- FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Business Communications Co., Inc., 25 Van Zant Street, Norwalk, CT 06855 USA. Telephone: 203-853-4266, Fax: 203-853-0348, Email: sales@bccresearch.com Website: http://www.bccresearch.com
- Book or Conf
- Recent Advances in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials: Materials, Applications, Research and Industry Developments, Markets. Volume 12. Business Communications Co., Inc. (BCC). May 21-23, 2001, Business Communications Co., Inc., Norwalk, CT, Stamford, CT, Lewin, M., Editors, 44-53 p., 2001
- Keywords
- flame retardants | fire retardants | flammability | additives | experiments | nanocomposites
- Abstract
- Fire code acceptance requirements for new materials are most often met through the use of additives. In the process of ensuring compliance to both regulatory and performance standards, complex mixtures containing the polymer resin, stabilizers, processing agents, pigments, and flame retardant additives must be formulated, characterized, and tested one at a time. The recognition that US industry needs more efficient tools has prompted the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to initiate a program of research directed at the development of high-throughput (or combinatorial) methods for materials flammability research. In this context, we use the term "high-throughput" to refer to a research strategy characterized by conducting many experiments at the same time. By virtue of its inherent efficiency, this approach will provide us with the capability to explore compositional space and thereby develop a better understanding of the interactions between components and their effects on the ultimate performance of these materials. This knowledge can be used by industry to determine optimal compositions with respect to materials flammability and other properties. In this paper, we summarize the major objectives and strategies of our research program and report on the progress we have made in applying high-throughput methods to the formulation, characterization, and flammability screening of multi-component polymer blends and nanocomposites.