Thermal Stability of Polypropylene-Clay Nanocomposites Subjected to Laser Pulse Heating

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2013

Department

Polymers and High Performance Materials

Abstract

Polypropylene based nanocomposites filled with montmorillonite nanoclay prepared by twin screw extrusion have been studied for thermal stability at high heating rates. In contrast to traditional thermal stability and flammability studies of polymer nanocomposites using heating rates on the order of tens of degrees per minute, this study achieves heating rates that are six orders of magnitude higher. This was accomplished using laser pulse heating. The results show that the nanoclay increases thermal stability of the polymer, as measured by a decrease in the mass loss for a laser pulse at a given energy and intensity. Electron microscopy and various spectroscopic techniques show that a silicate-rich char layer may provide the mechanism for protection of the polymer and decreased degradation rates. The results of the study are compared to the typical results found in traditional thermal stability testing. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication Title

Polymer Degradation and Stability

Volume

98

Issue

12

First Page

2497

Last Page

2502

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