Graphite Oxide Flame Retardants

Details

• Creators:
  Higginbotham, Amanda L. ; Lomeda, Jay ; Tour, James M. ; Morgan, Alexander ; Lyon, Richard E.
• Corporate Creators:
  Rice University ; University of Dayton Research Institute ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center. Airport and Aircraft Safety Research and Development Division.
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Fire Retardants Flames Graphite Nanocomposites Oxides
• Publication/ Report Number:
  DOT/FAA/AR-TN09/60
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• Edition:
  Technical Note
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Aviation Administration. William J. Hughes Technical Center
• Abstract:
  Thermoplastics and composites made from hydrocarbon polymers can improve the affordability, strength-to-weight ratio, and durability of manufactured products. Unfortunately, the use of these materials in aircraft and other vehicles is limited because of their inherent flammability. An alternative, lower-cost strategy is to develop environmentally benign additives that significantly reduce the flammability of commodity polymers. In this study, polymers blended with graphite oxide (GO) and its functionalized analogs were evaluated as cost-effective, fire-resistant materials for aircraft and other forms of mass transportation. GO polymer nanocomposites were prepared by dispersing 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 weight % GO in polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) for the purpose of evaluating the flammability and materials properties of the resulting systems. The overall morphology and dispersion of the GO within the polymer nanocomposites were studied by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy; the GO was found to be well-dispersed throughout the matrix without formation of large aggregates. Mechanical tests were performed using dynamic mechanical analysis to measure the storage modulus, which increased with GO loading for all polymer systems. Microscale oxygen consumption calorimetry revealed that GO could reduce the total heat release and heat release capacity of HIPS and ABS. Nanocomposites of GO with PC demonstrated very fast self-extinguishing times in vertical open flame tests. Heat release rate of the 2.5 weight percent GO nanocomposites measured in a cone calorimeter in flaming combustion was reduced 25% and a surface energy balance was used to explain the results in terms of enhanced radiant energy losses by the GO.
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0364df14932b3428e267056db59d53ec4ba480974fb50a1e5712af03600955d6e16d555c323cff28d37d1eafa1fb88ce65609aef40499df2391f5ed8a4f35320
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/90255/dot_90255_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 293.97 KB ]