Layered double hydroxides intercalated with borate anions: Fire and thermal properties in ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer

Fire and thermal properties of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) composites prepared by melt blending with layered double hydroxides (LDH) have been studied. Two types of LDHs intercalated with borate anion were prepared using the coprecipitation method and the metals Mg2+, Zn2+ and Al3+. Characterization of the LDHs and the EVA composites was performed using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and cone calorimetry. Thermal analyses show that the addition of LDHs improves the thermal stability of EVA. Fire properties evaluated using the cone calorimeter were significantly improved in the EVA/LDH composites. The peak heat release rate was reduced by about 40% when only 3% by weight of the LDH was added to the copolymer. Comparison of the fire properties of the LDHs with those of aluminum trihydrate (ATH), magnesium hydroxides (MDH), zinc hydroxide (ZH) and their combinations at 40% loading, reveal that the LDHs were more effective than when MDH and ZH are used alone

Flame-retarded Polystyrene: Investigating Chemical Interactions between Ammonium Polyphosphate and MgAl Layered Double Hydroxide

Potential flame retardants, MgAl-LDH and ammonium polyphosphate (APP), were added to neat polystyrene (PS) individually or in combinations at weight fractions no greater than 10%. Structural morphologies of MgAl-LDH and the corresponding PS nanocomposites were established via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry were used to study the thermal stability and fire performance of the composites. Time to ignition is greatly reduced for PS composites when compared to the virgin polymer. Synergistic effects were observed in both TGA and cone calorimetry for formulations containing both MgAl-LDH and APP. Physical and chemical interactions between MgAl-LDH and APP are responsible for the observed synergy in thermal stability and fire performance

Does organic modification of layered double hydroxides improve the fire performance of PMMA?

The effect of modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) on fire properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) is investigated. Organically-modified LDHs were prepared via rehydration of calcined hydrotalcite in a palmitate solution. Composites consisting of the organo-LDHs, unmodified hydrotalcite and calcined oxides were prepared with poly(methyl methacrylate) using melt blending. Thermal and fire properties of the (nano)composites were studied. The thermogravimetric analyses of the composites show an increase in thermal stability. Fire performance, evaluated using cone calorimetry, show that organically-modified LDHs composites give the best reductions in peak heat release rate, PHRR, i.e., 51% at 10% weight loading. Dispersion of the LDHs was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and X–ray diffraction. Nanocomposite formation was observed with organically-modified LDHs, while the unmodified LDH composites gave only microcomposites

Variation of benzyl anions in MgAl-layered double hydroxides: Fire and thermal properties in PMMA

Magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxides (MgAl-LDHs) intercalated with a range of benzyl anions were prepared using the coprecipitation method. The benzyl anions differ in functionality (i.e. carboxylate, sulfonate, and phosphonate) and presence or absence of an amino substituent. Various methods for preparing LDHs (i.e. ion exchange, coprecipitation and rehydration of the calcined LDH methods) have been compared with the MgAl-benzene phosphonate and their effect on fire and thermal properties was studied. After characterization, the MgAl-LDHs were melt-blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at loadings of 3 and 10% by weight to prepare composites. Characterization of the LDHs and the PMMA composites was performed using FTIR, XRD, TGA, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cone calorimetry. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the presence of the charge balancing benzyl anions in the galleries of the MgAl-LDHs. Improvements in fire and thermal properties of the PMMA composites were observed. The cone calorimeter revealed that the addition of 10% MgAl-LDHs reduces the peak heat release rate by more than 30%

Fire and thermal properties of layered double hydroxides and polyurea nanocomposites

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with linear alkyl carboxylates (CH3(CH2 )n COO- , n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20), borate and benzyl anions were prepared. The effect on fire and thermal properties of the mode of preparation for LDHs (i.e. ion exchange, coprecipitation and rehydration of the calcined LDH methods) has been studied. After characterization, the LDHs were used to prepare nanocomposites with a range of polar and non-polar polymers. Characterization of the LDHs and the nanocomposites was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and cone calorimetry. FTIR and XRD analyses confirmed the presence of the charge balancing anions in the galleries of the LDHs. Improvements in fire and thermal properties of the nanocomposites were observed. The cone calorimeter revealed that the addition of LDHs reduces the peak heat release rate significantly. LDHs were combined with commercial fire retardants. Synergistic effects were observed in both TGA and cone calorimetry for formulations containing both LDH and ammonium polyphosphate (APP). Physical and chemical interactions between LDH and APP are responsible for the observed synergy in thermal stability and fire performance

Will Layered Double Hydroxides Give Nanocomposites with Polar or Non-polar Polymers?

A preliminary study to determine the compatibility of organically-modified magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxides with polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and poly(methyl methacrylate) was carried out by melt blending of the polymers with the layered double hydroxide. Only in the case of poly(methyl methacrylate) was good dispersion and nanocomposite formation obtained. The morphology of all the four systems was examined using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy; the systems were also characterized by thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry

Use of Layered Double Hydroxides as Polymer Fire-Retardant Additives: Advantages and Challenges

Layered Double Hydroxides (LHDs) have been identified as a promising new additive class for generating polymer nanocomposites with enhanced thermal stability and improved flammability properties. An advantage of these materials over structurally similar smectite clays is the ability to tune physical and chemical properties via simple synthetic strategies that can modify the metal hydroxide layer and/or the identity of the charge-balancing interlayer anion. Recent advances in development of LDHs for polymer fire retardancy applications are reviewed here and a discussion of future challenges is provided

Effect of MgAl-layered double hydroxide exchanged with linear alkyl carboxylates on fire-retardancy of PMMA and PS

Alkylcarboxylate-modified layered double hydroxides (LDH) were prepared and used as nanofillers for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS). The LDH intercalated with long-chain linear alkyl carboxylates (CH3(CH2)nCOO−, n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20) were prepared via anionic exchange of MgAl–nitrate, showing a systematic increase in basal spacing with longer alkyls. MgAl–undecenoate LDH was prepared by co-precipitation. The MgAl–LDHs were melt blended with poly(methyl methacrylate) and bulk polymerized with styrene to form nanocomposites. The dispersion of the MgAl–LDH in the polymers was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Thermal and fire properties were studied using cone calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis; the thermal stability of both polymers was enhanced and a very significant reduction in the peak heat release rate was observed for almost all of the poly(methyl methacrylate) composites and a few of the polystyrene composites