NIST-UMD Scientists Demonstrate Potential Nanocomposite Fire Retardants

A team of materials scientists from the University of Maryland (UMD) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have shown that a nanocomposite material provides more fire protection when nanoscale plates of clay are more uniformly and widely dispersed in a polymer.

In tests conducted on five specimens with varying dispersion of clay plates, but with equal amount of nanoscale filler, the sample that had the widest dispersion was more resistant to burning, igniting and degradation.

NIST-UMD scientists combined a polymer, which is normally used in insulation and packaging products, and montmorillonite nanometer scale plates for the experiments. The montmorillonite clay was imbued in the polymer and the combination produced a superior material. The team subjected the specimens to a number of flammability tests and characterization methods. The tests provided a comprehensive picture of the dispersion of nanoscale clay plates in the polymer and the response of the material to heat influx.