FLAME IGNITION MECHANISMS IN POLYMER NANOCOMPOSITES: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCES AND INTERPRETATION

In this work, flaming ignition of montmorillonite clay polymer nanocomposites and microcomposites was addressed, showing variable trends in the time to ignition, as compared with the reference polymers. Temperatures on the surface layer of specimens irradiated in the cone calorimeter were measured during the test, to investigate the surface temperature at ignition. Viscosity measurement and in depth radiative absorption measurements were also carried out and correlated with ignition of polymer. Additionally, physical and chemical characterization of the condensed phase at different time, either before or after ignition, were carried out to investigate the evolution of the material during the combustion process