Inhibition of Flame Propagation
in Nanocomposites with Expanded
Polystyrene Recycled Clay, Gypsum,
and Titanium Dioxide
S. S. Bartolomei, E. A. B. Moura and H. Wiebeck
Abstract The large amount of plastic waste found in the environment, landfills, and
dumps boost research into the recycling of polymer materials, which could reduce
the amount of polymer discarded. In Brazil, the sector that most consumes polymers
is the civil construction that could consume recycled polymers without concerns with
the properties due to applications of low mechanical exigency. However, for appli-
cations in this sector, it is necessary that the materials have some resistance to the
propagation of flames. This work discusses the flame retardance in nanocomposites
with recycled polystyrene matrix and particles of nanoargila, titanium dioxide, and
gypsum. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorime-
ter (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and flammability
test. The results showed that glycerol, added during recycling, can plasticize recy-
cled expanded polystyrene while maintaining the flame resistance properties of the
material with flame retardant. It can also be concluded that some particles may delay
the propagation of the flame in the composite.
Keywords Clay · Titanium dioxide · Gypsum · Expanded polystyrene · Flame
retardance
S. S. Bartolomei (B )
José Crespo Gonzales Faculty of Technology (Fatec Sorocaba), Av. Engenheiro Carlos Reinaldo
Mendes 2015, Sorocaba, SP 18013-280, Brazil
e-mail: suellen.signer@gmail.com
E. A. B. Moura
Center of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
(IPEN), Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes 2242, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
H. Wiebeck
Polytechnic School of USP, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, University of
Sao Paulo (USP), Av. Prof. Mello Moraes 5643, Sao Paulo, SP 05508-010, Brazil
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2020
J. Li et al. (eds.), Characterization of Minerals, Metals, and Materials 2020,
The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36628-5_60
609