Polypropylene/montmorillonite nanocomposites and intumescent, flame‐retardant montmorillonite synergism in polypropylene nanocomposites

Abstract

Polypropylene/montmorillonite (MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by a novel method, with pristine MMT with a surfactant. This study showed that the present of maleic acid modified polypropylene and the ratio of the surfactant to MMT had an influence on the dispersion of MMT in the hybrids. A density functional theory and a self-consistent field were used to illuminate the results. We studied the synergy between MMT and an intumescent flame retardant (IFR) and found that there was a optimal ratio of MMT to IFR. In addition, the mechanisms of melt intercalation and synergism between MMT and IFR were examined.