Effect of montmorillonite content and the type of its modifier on the thermal properties and flammability of polyimideamide nanocomposite fibers

Abstract

The effects of montmorillonite (MMT) content (1, 3, 5%) and the type of its modifiers on the thermal properties and flammability of PIA nanocomposite fibers have been assessed. Sodium montmorrilonite was modified with aminododecane acid and octadecylamine. Samples of PIA nanocomposite containing commercial MMT: Nanomer PGW from Nanocor were also included in the comparative analysis. It has been found that the glass transition temperature (T g) of the fibers under investigation depends on the type of MMT’s modifier. On the other hand this parameter does not affect the thermal stability of fibers defined with T 5 and T 50 indicators since the thermal decomposition of modifiers takes place at lower temperatures. The results of testing the flammability of PIA nanocomposite fibers containing 3% of variously modified MMT allow one to include them among flame-retardant fibers.