Fire retarding properties of nanocomposites from polystyrene waste and antimony, barium, and nickel oxides’ nanoparticles

Abstract

This work involves the synthesis of oxide nanoparticles via the chemical precipitation 
method and formation of nanocomposites by the in situ polymerization method. The 
treated and blank samples were prepared and investigated for ignitability, flame prop
agation, and afterglow time. Sb2
O3
/polystyrene (PS) was found to give a good effect for 
ignitability after 6.00 seconds than BaO/PS and NiO/PS nanocomposites and untreated PS 
after 5.00, 4.00, and 2.00 seconds as the concentration of the nanoparticles incorporated 
in the PS increased, respectively. Sb2
O3
/PS gave a better effect for flame propagation than 
untreated PS, BaO/PS, and NiO/PS nanocomposites. The Sb2
O3
/PS nanocomposite has an afterglow time of 1 second at 0.25 g concentration than BaO/PS (2 seconds) and NiO/
PS nanocomposite (2 seconds) and blank PS (5 seconds). Conclusively, with this result, 
Sb2
O3
/PS nanocomposite was found to give a better retarding effect. It is recommended 
that during the production of polymer nanocomposites, PS/Sb2
O3
, PS/BaO, and PS/NiO 
nanocomposites could be used to hinder or slow down the propagation of fire during 
accidental fire outbreaks.