Inhibition of Flame Propagation in Nanocomposites with Expanded Polystyrene Recycled Clay, Gypsum, and Titanium Dioxide

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 applications 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 calorimeter (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and flammability test. The results showed that glycerol, added during recycling, can plasticize recycled 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.