Flammability and thermal stability studies of styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer/graphite oxide nanocomposite

Styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer (St-BA)/graphite oxide (GO) nanocomposites were prepared via exfoliation-adsorption with monomer followed by in situ emulsion polymerization. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution electron microscopy (HREM). Both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements and cone calorimetry experiments were carried out to evaluate their thermal stability and flammability properties. The cone calorimetry data showed that the peak heat release rate (HRR) value is reduced remarkably by 45% in an St-BA/GO nanocomposite with a GO content of only 1 wt%. The result suggests that the addition of GO even in I wt% content can greatly decrease the heat and smoke release rate of the St-BA/GO nanocomposites, and can increase their thermal decomposition temperature (T-d) slightly. However, no effect of GO content on the reduction of HRR and THR in nanocomposites is apparent. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.