Flammability and thermal stability studies of polymer layered-silicate (clay) nanocomposites1

In the pursuit of improved approaches to fire retarding polymers, a wide variety of concerns must be addressed in addition to the flammability issues. For commodity polymers, their low cost requires that the fire retardant (FR) approach also be of low cost. This limits solutions primarily to additive type approaches. These additives must be inexpensive and easily processed with the polymer. In addition, the additive must not excessively degrade the other performance properties of the polymer, and it must not create environmental problems when recycling or at the time of its final disposal. We have recently found that polymer layered-silicate (clay) nanocomposites have the unique combination of reduced flammability and improved physical properties. This paper is intended as an overview of the research to date, by our group and others, on the use of clays, dispersed at the nanometer level, in polymers for improving thermal stability and flammability.