In situ emulsion polymerization was employed to obtain poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/cerium(IV) dioxide and polystyrene (PS)/cerium(IV) dioxide nanocomposites at two different cerium(IV) dioxide loadings (2.3 wt% and 4.6 wt%). Transmission electron microscope results indicated uniform dispersion of cerium (IV) dioxide in the polymer matrix. Both PMMA and PS nanocomposites exhibit lower thermal stability than the pristine polymers. Microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) and cone calorimetry are used to evaluate the fire retardancy of the polymer nanocomposites. PMMA/cerium(IV) dioxide showed significant heat release rate (HRR) reduction at low loadings (<5 wt%). while PS/cerium(IV) dioxide exhibits less HRR reduction at the same loadings. An explanation of the role of cerium (IV) dioxide in fire retardancy of polymer/ceria nanocomposites based on XPS results is suggested. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.