Evaluation of flame retardancy and shear resistivity characteristics of organoclay within acrylate polymer

The present work focuses on the effect of organically modified nanoclays on the fire resistance and processability characteristics of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). PMMA nanocomposite of cloisite 30B (methyl tallow bis-2 hydroxyethyl quarternary ammonium salt modifier) (C30B) was prepared by melt blending technique. A comparative study of flame retardant characteristics of virgin and filled matrix was carried out using cone calorimeter at a heat flux of 50 kW m^?2, and the service temperature range was analyzed from thermogravimetric analysis. Parallel plate rheometry revealed the variation in processability as a function of C30B reinforcement and corresponding melt strength of the samples was evaluated through complex viscosity, storage, and loss modulus. Similarly, application-level modulus values were evaluated through viscoelastic properties by dynamic mechanical analysis. Supportive information for the observations from the above characterization was conducted using morphological studies by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy.