Study on Fire Retardancy Mechanism of POSS Nanocomposites

Study on Fire Retardancy Mechanism of POSS Nanocomposites

Many of the petroleum-based polymer materials used in our daily lives are highly flammable. Therefore, with the progress of polymer science and the increase of its application in various industries, improving the thermal properties and fire resistance of polymers has become a concern of scientists in this basin. Recently, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanoparticles have attracted much attention in fire retardant applications. The preparation of POSS polymer nanocomposites improves the thermal properties and fire resistance of polymers. The structural diversity of POSS has led to the creation of a wide range of properties in POSS nanocomposites. Therefore, firstly, the effect of POSS nanoparticles on the thermal properties of the polymer has been investigated. In addition to increasing the thermal resistance of polymers, POSS nanoparticles also prevent fire from penetrating the underlying layers of materials. This feature makes POSS nanocomposites a promising flame retardant. This issue has caused the fire-retardant mechanism of POSS nanocomposites to be discussed in the rest of the article. Finally, views on the potentials, challenges, and further development of POSS as fire-retardant additives are expressed and a comparison is made between POSS and conventional additives.