ESTABILIDADE TÉRMICA E FLAMABILIDADE DE NANOCOMPÓSITOS DE POLIETILENO DE ALTA MASSA MOLAR PRODUZIDOS POR POLIMERIZAÇÃO IN SITU.

act High density polyethylene-clay, graphite or talc composites were produced using direct solvent in situ polymerization using a Ziegler catalyst system (TiCl4 and triethylaluminum in hexane). The produced polymer had a high average molecular weight and in inert atmosphere presents a thermal degradation above 400ºC. The thermal degradation of the polymers in the nanocomposites was shifted for higher temperature (until close to 500ºC) indicating an improvement in the thermal stability of the polymeric matrix. The inflammability tests clearly showed a retardation or attenuation effect of the flames progression for all nanocomposites due to the barrier effect for gases and volatile compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]