title: Nonflammable Alginate Nanocomposite Aerogels Prepared by a Simple Freeze-Drying and Post-Cross-Linking Method.
abstract: Nonflammable materials based on renewable ammonium alginate and nano fillers (nanoscale magnesium hydroxide, nanoscale aluminum hydroxide, layered double hydroxide, sodium montmorillonite, and Kaolin) were fabricated through a simple, environmentally friendly freeze-drying process, in which water was used as a solvent. A simple and economic post-cross-linking method was used to obtain homogeneous samples. The microstructure of the cross-linked alginate aerogels show three-dimensional networks. These materials exhibit low densities (0.064-0.116 g cm(-3)), low thermal conductivities (0.024-0.046 W/m K), and useful mechanical strengths (0.7-3.5 MPa). The aerogels also exhibit high thermal stabilities and achieve inherent nonflammability with limiting oxygen indexes (LOI) higher than 60. Related properties were conducted and analyzed by cone calorimeter (CC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These results combine to suggest promising prospects for use of these aerogel nanocomposites in a range of applications.
authors.affiliation: Center for Degradable and Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Center for Degradable and Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Center for Degradable and Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Degradable and Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Degradable and Flame-Retardant Polymeric Materials, National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University , Chengdu 610064, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Zhong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University , Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7202, United States.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
keywords: aerogel; alginate; flame retardant; freeze-drying; post-cross-linking; thermal insulation