Cyanate Ester Clay Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Flammability Studies

Published

May 23, 1999

Author(s)

Jeffrey W. Gilman, Richard H. Harris Jr., Douglas Hunter

Abstract

New goals outlined by the U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advanced Fire-Safe Aircraft Materials Research Program enumerate an order-of-magnitude improvement in aircraft cabin-material fire safety. In the pursuit of improved approaches to the design of ultra-fire-safe aircraft interior materials, a wide variety of concerns must be addressed in addition to flammability. For many polymers used in the interior of aircraft cost is a major concern for aircraft manufacturers. Therefore, an additive approach to improving the fire safety of polymers is attractive. The additives must be inexpensive and easily processed with the, polymer. In addition, the additive must not excessively degrade the other performance properties of the polymer, and it must not create environmental problems when recycling or at the time of its final disposal. We have recently found that polymer layered-silicate (clay) nanocomposites have the unique combination of improved flammability properties, and improved physical properties as well as recyclability. We report here on the use of a layered silicate, montmorilionitc clay, dispersed at the nanometer level, in cyanate ester resins for improving flammability. We show that the use of melamine-treated montmorillonite in these resins yields exfoliated moutmorillonite in the cured cyanate ester nanocomposites. This reduces the peak heat release rate by over 50%. We anticipate that this nanocomposite approach would be especially useful in improving toughened cyanate ester resins since the typical toughening agents used often increase the flammability and lower the modulus.

Proceedings Title

International SAMPE Symposiium/Exhibition, 44th Proceedings

Conference Dates

May 23-27, 1999

Conference Location

Long Beach, CA

Conference Title

Evolving and Revolutionary Technologies for the New Millennium

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

nanocomposites, flammability, phenolictriazines, aircraft compartments, fire safety, aircraft interiors

Citation

Gilman, J. , Harris, R. and Hunter, D. (1999), Cyanate Ester Clay Nanocomposites: Synthesis and Flammability Studies, International SAMPE Symposiium/Exhibition, 44th Proceedings, Long Beach, CA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=912002 (Accessed November 8, 2024)