Polymer flammability thermal analysis

The reactions of the polymer in air are obviously more relevant to its flammability than those in argon, and thermal analysis data for brominated polyester samples in air, are presented in Table IV. 

Thermal analysis, in the form of TG, has been employed extensively in the area of polymer flammability to characterize polymer degradation. 

The above thermal analysis studies demonstrated the enhanced thermal stability of POSS materials, and suggested that there is potential to improve the flammability properties of polymers when compounded with these macromers. In a typical example of their application as flame retardants, a U.S. patent39 described the use of preceramic materials, namely, polycarbosilanes (PCS), polysilanes (PS), polysilsesquioxane (PSS) resins, and POSS (structures are shown in Figure 8.6) to improve the flammability properties of thermoplastic polymers such as, polypropylene and thermoplastic elastomers such as Kraton (polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene, SBS) and Pebax (polyether block-polyamide copolymer). 

Lyon, R., Walters, R., and Stoliarov, S., A thermal analysis method for measuring polymer flammability. Journal ofASTM International 2006, 3, 1-18. 

Thermal analysis experiments have clearly shown that tin-based fire retardants markedly alter both the initial pyrolysis and the oxidative burn off stages that occur during polymer breakdown These changes have been interpreted as being indicative of an extensive condensed phase action for the tin additive, in which the thermal breakdown of the polymer is altered to give increased formation of a thermally stable carbonaceous char at the expense of volatile, flammable products. The consequent reduction in the amount of fuel supplied to the flame largely accounts for the beneficial smoke-suppressant properties associated with zinc stannates and other tin-based fire retardants. 

Hirschler, M. M. Thermal analysis and flammability of polymers. Effect of halogen-metal additive systems. Europ. Polym. J., 19, 121 (1983)... 

E. M. Pearce, Y. P. Khanna, and R. Rancher, Thermal Analysis in Polymer Flammability in Thermal Characterization of Polymeric Materials, edited by E. Turi, Academic Press,... 

In an effort to fashion a unified mechanism for clay nanocomposites, Wilkie et al. have studied the effect that clay has on the thermal degradation behavior of more than 11 different polymers. This work also attempts to correlate the thermal analysis data with flammability properties measured in a cone calorimeter. " In this work TGA degradation products were cryogenically trapped and analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) the thermal degradation pathways of the polymers with and without clay were investigated. Wilkie... 

The thermal analysis study above demonstrated the enhanced thermal stability of POSS-polymer nanocomposites and suggested that there is a potential to improve the flammability properties of matrix polymers. However, studies clearly demonstrating such improvement by means of the use of POSS-based... 

Various workers have studied acrylate copolymers [23-25]. Thus, Pointeck and coworkers [24] examined the linking between two interpenetrating polymer networks (PE/polymeric acrylate) caused by radiation. Zhang and co-workers [25] studied the thermal decomposition and flammability of three polyacrylates based on bisphenol A, 1,1-dichloro 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy phenyl)ethylene and 4,4 -dihydroxy-3-ethoxy benzylidenoacetophenone. Techniques used included Py-GC-MS, simultaneous thermal analysis and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry. 

Bernard Milter has been Associate Director of Research at Textile Research Institute, Princeton, NJ, since 1970. He received his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from McGill University followed by a number of industrial and academic appointments. He was a Fiber Society National Lecturer, 1973-1974 and has served on the Executive Committees of the Information Council on Fabric Flammability and the North American Thermal Analysis Society. In 1977, he received the Harold DeWltt Smith Medal of the American Society for Testing and Materials for his work in fiber and textile measurements. His major fields of interest are the thermal and combustion behavior of polymers, fabric flammability and the surface properties of fibrous materials. 

The impact of the nanocomposite technology on polymers is huge, reflected in enhanced properties of the resulting PNs, such as enhanced mechanical, barrier, solvent-resistant, and ablation properties.12 The effect of nanocomposite technology on the thermal and fire performance of the polymers is primarily observed in two important parameters of the polymers (1) the onset temperature (7( ,nsct) in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curve—representative of the thermal stability of the polymer, and (2) the peak heat release rate (peak HRR) in cone calorimetric analysis (CCA)—a reflection of the combustion behavior (the flammability) of the polymer. The Tonset will be increased and the peak HRR will be reduced for a variety of polymers when nanoscale dispersion of the nanoadditive is achieved in the polymer matrix. 

Additionally, other features of polymer characterisation are discussed such as the determination of molecular weight, polymer fractionation techniques, chemical and thermal stability, resin cure, oxidative stability, photopolymers, glass and other transitions, crystallinity, viscoelasticity, rheological properties, thermal properties, flammability testing, particle size analysis and the measurement of the mechanical, electrical and optical properties of polymers. 

Hazarika A, Maji TK (2014c) Strain sensing behavior and dynamic mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes/nanoclay reinforced wood polymCT nanocomposite. Chem Eng J 247 33-41 Hazarika A, Maji TK (2014d) Thermal decomposition kinetics, flammability, and mechanical property smdy of wood polymtar nanocomposite. J Therm Anal Calorim 115 1679-1691 Hazarika A, Mandal M, Maji TK (2014) Dynamic mechanical analysis, biodegradability and thermal stability of wood polymer nanocomposites. Compos Part B 60 568-576 Hetzer M, Kee D (2008) Wootl/polymer/nanoclay composites, environmentally friendly sustainable technology a review. Chem Eng Res Des 86 1083-1093 Hill CAS, Abdirl KHPS, Hale MD (1998) A study of the potential of acetylation to improve the properties of plant fibres, frrd Crops Prod 8 53-63 Hoffmann MR, Martin ST, Choi WY, Bahnemann W (1995) Environmental application of semiconductm photocatalysis. Chem Rev 95 69-96 Huda MS, Drzal LT, Misra M, Mohanty AK (2(K)6) Wood-fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites evaluation of the physicomechanical and morphological properties. J AppI Polym Sci 102 4856-4869... 

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