Abstract:A boron-containing layered hydroxy salt (LHS), ZHTMDBB, was prepared and compounded with a highly flammable synthetic polymer, poly (methyl methacrylate) {PMMA}, via melt blending: the composite structure was intercalated with poor dispersion. The effect of this LHS on the NOT THE PUBLISHED VERSION; this is the author's final, peer-reviewed manuscript. The published version may be accessed by following the link in the citation at the bottom of the page.Polymer Degradation and Stability, Vol. 95, No. 9 (September 2010): pg. 1593-1604. DOI. This article is © Elsevier and permission has been granted for this version to appear in e-Publications@Marquette. Elsevier does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Elsevier. 2 flammability, thermal stability and degradation kinetics of PMMA was investigated via cone calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The addition of 3-10% by mass of ZHTMDBB to PMMA resulted in significant reduction of peak heat release rate (22-48%) of the polymer and improvements in thermal stability were observed in both air and nitrogen. Effective activation energies for the degradation process were evaluated using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, Friedman, and Kissinger methods. All three methods indicated that the additive increased the activation energies of the first step of the degradation process in both air and nitrogen. Activation energies of the second step were lowered in nitrogen but were not significantly affected in air.

Anion exchange reactions of nanodimensional layered metal hydroxide compounds are utilized to create materials with targeted physical and chemical properties and also as a means for controlled release of intercalated anions. The kinetics of this important class of reaction are generally characterized by model-based approaches. In this work, a different approach based on isothermal, isoconversional analysis was utilized to determine effective activation energies with respect to extent of reaction. Two different layered metal hydroxide materials were chosen for reaction with chloride anions, using a temperature range of 30−60 °C. The concentrations of anions released into solution and the changes in polycrystalline solid phases were evaluated using model-based (Avrami-Erofe'ev nucleation−growth model) and model-free (integral isoconversional) methods. The results demonstrate the utility of the isoconversional approach for identifying when fitting to a single model is not appropriate, particularly for characterizing the temperature dependence of the reaction kinetics.

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Organically-modified montmorillonite (MMT) clays have been prepared using ammonium salts containing quinoline, pyridine, benzene, and styrenic groups. The nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending and the formation of nanocomposites was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal stability and flammability were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimetry measurements, respectively. The presence ofmodified MMT at 5% loading resulted in significant improvement in thermal stability compared to the virgin polymer. Effective activation energies for mass loss were determined via a model-free isoconversional approach from TGA data obtained under N2 and under air. The additives served to raise the activation energy, with a more significant impact observed under pyrolysis conditions. The onset temperature of degradation and temperature of maximum decomposition rate are increased, while the peak heat release rate and mass loss rates are significantly reduced in the presence of three of the modified clays. No reduction in the total heat released is observed.

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