Numerical and Experimental Evaluations of the Flammability and Pyrolysis of a Resole-based Nanocomposite by Cone Calorimeter

作者：Bahramian Ahmad Reza; Kokabi Mehrdad^*

来源：Iranian Polymer Journal, 2011, 20(5): 399-411.

• flammability
• pyrolysis
• nanocomposite
• calorimetry
• modelling

A large number of studies using cone calorimeter have shown that nanoparticles in even small quantities improve flammability resistance by reducing heat release and mass loss rate significantly. In recent years, nanoclay has been increasingly used as an alternative to traditional fire retardants to improve the strength and fire retardancy of polymeric materials. They have distinct advantages over traditional fillers in terms of production, amount of required additive of only 2-10% compared to 20-70%. The objectives of this work were the numerical and experimental evaluations of the flammability of the polymeric composite and nanocomposite materials under the external radiation heat flux. The theoretical modelling of mass loss and heat release rate based on conservation equations of mass and energy were then confirmed by the experimental data of cone calorimetry test. Running the computer programme and cone calorimeter, at 8x10(4) W/m(2) external radiation heat flux condition, there were lower heat release rate of 30-50% and a lower mass loss of 20-40% for nanocomposites in comparison with composite counterparts. Nanocomposite samples showed excellent potential as thermal protection system because upon pyrolysis, the organic-inorganic nanostructure in reinforcing the polymer can be converted into a uniform ceramic layer which may lead to significantly higher resistance to oxidation and mechanical erosion compared to simple composites. Formation of this ceramic layer on char formed from the pyrolysis of the nanocomposite at high temperature not only enhances the char mechanical strength, but also acts as secondary protection layer to protect the lower remaining nanocomposite.

• 出版日期2011-5