Graphite oxide flame-retardant polymer nanocomposites.

Graphite oxide (GO) polymer nanocomposites were developed at 1, 5, and 10 wt % GO with polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and high-impact polystyrene for the purpose of evaluating the flammability reduction and material properties of the resulting systems. The overall morphology and dispersion of GO within the polymer nanocomposites were studied by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy; GO was found to be well-dispersed throughout the matrix without the formation of large aggregates. Mechanical testing was performed using dynamic mechanical analysis to measure the storage modulus, which increased for all polymer systems with increased GO loading. Microscale oxygen consumption calorimetry revealed that the addition of GO reduced the total heat release and peak heat release rates in all systems, and GO-PC composites demonstrated very fast self-extinguishing times in vertical open flame tests, which are important to some regulatory fire safety applications.