Fang SL, Hu Y, Song L, Wu J (2009) Preparation and Investigation of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer/Silicone Rubber/Clay Nanocomposites. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 113(3), 1664-1670. [In English]

Web link:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.3028

Keywords:

clay; flame retardance; nanocomposites; polyolefins; silicones; silicate nanocomposites; layered-silicate; clay nanocomposites; thermal-degradation; acrylate copolymer; silicone elastomer; flame; retardancy; behavior; polymer; flammability

Abstract: In this article, the combination of silicone rubber (SR) elastomer with synthetic iron montmorillonite (Fe-MMT) to form a kind of new flame-retardant system based on an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer is first reported. Also, the flame retardancy of the EVA/SR/Fe-MMT hybrid are compared with that of EVA/SR/natural sodium montmorillonite. The structures of the nano-composites were characterized with X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Cone calorimeter tests and thermogravimetric analysis were used to evaluate the flame-retardant properties and thermal stability of the composites, respectively. In addition, tensile tests were carried Out with a universal testing machine, and the morphology of the fracture surface was observed with environmental scanning electron microscopy. We found that SR/organophilic montmorillonite (Fe-OMT) was more effective in reducing the primary peak heat release rate of the nanocomposite, and the EVA/SR/Fe-OMT hybrid had a higher thermal stability in the deacetylated polymer than EVA/SR/sodium organophilic montmorillonite. Moreover, the exfoliated EVA/SR/Fe-OMT nanocomposite displayed excellent mechanical properties because of a better dispersion of Fe-OMT in the polymer matrix, and a possible mechanism is discussed. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 113: 1664-1670, 2009