Abstract
Thermal degradation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was studied by using inorganic salt of aluminum triiodide (AlI
3
). The composites of PMMA were prepared with AlI
3
by changing the concentration of the AlI
3
additive from 2% to 10% (
w
/
w
). The PMMA composites with AlI
3
were characterized by TGA, DTG, SEM, FTIR, HBT, and Py-GC-MS techniques. The FTIR peaks of PMMA composite at 1316, 786, and 693 cm
−1
justify the chemical association between PMMA and AlI
3
. TGA study shows that the stability of PMMA is enhanced by the addition of the AlI
3
additive. SEM analysis represented that there is a relationship between polymer and additive when they are mixed at the molecular level. The horizontal burning test (HBT) also confirmed that the AlI
3
additive produced the flame retarding properties in PMMA polymer. The burning rate of composite with 10% of AlI
3
additive decreases five times as much as compared to pure PMMA polymer. Py-GC-MS analysis deduced that PMMA composite produced less toxic and environment-friendly substances (CO
2
) by the influence of AlI
3
additive as compared to neat PMMA.