W. Y. Xing, X. Wang, L. Song and Y. Hu (2016) Enhanced thermal stability and flame retardancy of polystyrene by incorporating titanium dioxide nanotubes via radical adsorption effect. Journal/Composites Science And Technology 133 15-22. [In English]
Web link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2016.07.013
Keywords: Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Nano particles; Thermal properties; HIGH-IMPACT POLYSTYRENE; OXIDE NANOTUBES; CHARRING BEHAVIOR; GRAPHENE; OXIDE; NANOCOMPOSITES; DEGRADATION; OXYGEN; TEMPERATURE; PHOSPHATE; GRAPHITE

Abstract: Titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and then incorporated into polystyrene (PS) through in situ bulk radical polymerization. In comparison, the PS/TiO2 composites with various TiO2 loadings were also prepared by melt blending method. The addition of TNTs induced a significant thermal stabilization on PS: with the 5 wt% loading of TNTs, the corresponding T-10% and T-max of the composite were improved by 41 and 58 degrees C compared to those of pristine PS. Meanwhile, an approximately 33% reduction in peak heat release rate was observed in the case of PS/TNTs5%. In contrast, TiO2 did not exhibit so effective enhancement in thermal stability and flame retardancy as TNTs. Direct pyrolysis-mass spectrometry and thermo-gravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry analysis showed that the radical adsorption effect of TNTs was responsible for the improved thermal stability and flame retardancy of polystyrene. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.