Development and evaluation of fire retardent unsaturated polyester clay nanocomposites.
type: CreativeWork
description: The research in this PhD thesis is an important part of a larger study aimed at developing the next generation of fire-resistant, lightweight, structural materials (Surefire). The Surefire project aimed to develop a new class of materials that exhibited properties such as strength, stiffness, hardness and fire performance to compete with conventional materials. The aim was to achieve this through the synergistic integration of both nano size (particulate) and micro size (fibrous) reinforcements within an unsaturated polyester matrix. A new fire retardant unsaturated polyester resin system capable of UL94 classification VO was developed. The novel approach used to achieve this innovative class of material did not include halogenated compounds, but instead combined state of the art nano-scale particles with existing but un-revealed know-how to achieve a new class of material.Initial studies concentrated on the characterisation of a range of alkylammonium and alkylphosphonium organoclays. This was followed by in-depth studies of the polymer layered silicate nanocomposite (PLSN) materials. A range of commercial nanoclays were sourced, and characterised. In addition a range of modified clays were developed to improve fire performance and compatibility. Intercalated nanoclays in polyester resin formed an integral, dense char and therefore provided good fire protection. Phosphonium-modified clays exhibited greater thermal stability and provided enhanced fire performance but were more expensive and batch quality was variable. The addition of nanoclays and the fire retardant dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) to the resin caused a synergistic improvement in fire performance in one particular type of resin, possibly due to the particular type of modification used, but not revealed. The addition of 5-10wt% clay can interfere with crosslink density of the composite resin so this issue was addressed by producing surfactants which offered a cross-linking group, vinyl and methacry…
abstract: The research in this PhD thesis is an important part of a larger study aimed at developing the next generation of fire-resistant, lightweight, structural materials (Surefire). The Surefire project aimed to develop a new class of materials that exhibited properties such as strength, stiffness, hardness and fire performance to compete with conventional materials. The aim was to achieve this through the synergistic integration of both nano size (particulate) and micro size (fibrous) reinforcements within an unsaturated polyester matrix. A new fire retardant unsaturated polyester resin system capable of UL94 classification VO was developed. The novel approach used to achieve this innovative class of material did not include halogenated compounds, but instead combined state of the art nano-scale particles with existing but un-revealed know-how to achieve a new class of material.Initial studies concentrated on the characterisation of a range of alkylammonium and alkylphosphonium organoclays. This was followed by in-depth studies of the polymer layered silicate nanocomposite (PLSN) materials. A range of commercial nanoclays were sourced, and characterised. In addition a range of modified clays were developed to improve fire performance and compatibility. Intercalated nanoclays in polyester resin formed an integral, dense char and therefore provided good fire protection. Phosphonium-modified clays exhibited greater thermal stability and provided enhanced fire performance but were more expensive and batch quality was variable. The addition of nanoclays and the fire retardant dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) to the resin caused a synergistic improvement in fire performance in one particular type of resin, possibly due to the particular type of modification used, but not revealed. The addition of 5-10wt% clay can interfere with crosslink density of the composite resin so this issue was addressed by producing surfactants which offered a cross-linking group, vinyl and methacry…
author: Charlesworth, Katie.
language: en
date published: 2007
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:31:18Z
provider: Sheffield Hallam University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom).