Does organic modification of layered double hydroxides improve the fire performance of PMMA?

The effect of modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) on fire properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) is investigated. Organically-modified LDHs were prepared via rehydration of calcined hydrotalcite in a palmitate solution. Composites consisting of the organo-LDHs, unmodified hydrotalcite and calcined oxides were prepared with poly(methyl methacrylate) using melt blending. Thermal and fire properties of the (nano)composites were studied. The thermogravimetric analyses of the composites show an increase in thermal stability. Fire performance, evaluated using cone calorimetry, show that organically-modified LDHs composites give the best reductions in peak heat release rate, PHRR, i.e., 51% at 10% weight loading. Dispersion of the LDHs was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Nanocomposite formation was observed with organically-modified LDHs, while the unmodified LDH composites gave only microcomposites.