EFFECT OF NANOSILICA ON THERMAL, FLAMMABILITY, AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WF/RPS-BASED NANOCOMPOSITES

ABSTRACT The present study considered the effect of nanosilica levels on the thermal, flammability, and morphological properties of nanocomposites made of wood flour and recycled polystyrene. To do so, the recycled polystyrene (50%), wood flour (50%), nanosilica (four levels of nanosilica; 0, 2, 4 and 6 phc (parts per hundred compounds)), and maleic anhydride, grafted with polypropylene (at a constant level of 3 phc) were mixed by a twin-screw extruder; then standard experimental samples were made using a hand pressing method. Next, the thermal and flammability properties were measured. The results showed that increasing of nanosilica content to 6 phc by weight increased thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of nanocomposites; in addition, the limited oxygen index increased. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that an increasing of nanosilica increased compatibility so that better link and adherence was observed among the fiber and matrix material.