Melamine resin/graphite nanoflakes hybrids and its vacuum-assisted prepared epoxy composites with anisotropic thermal conductivity and improved flame retardancy. (26th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Fubin; Wu, Kun; Wang, Shan; Lu, Mangeng
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 144(2017)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 106
• Publication Date: 2017-05-26
• Subjects: Nano composites -- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- Interface -- Thermal properties; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2017.03.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: Melamine resin/graphite nanoflakes hybrids (MGNH) were synthesized by in situ polymerization. The SEM and TEM demonstrate that melamine resin was self-deposited on the surface of the flakes. MGNH is uniform sheeted hybrids which exhibits excellent dispersiveness. MGNH/epoxy composite (MGNH/EP) is prepared via vacuum-assisted method. The special prepared method endows MGNH/EP with interesting anisotropic thermal conductivity. The coefficient of thermal conductivity of the composite in normal direction is 0.4024 W m −1 K −1, while that of MGNH/EP in horizontal direction is 1.5596 W m −1 K −1 . The optical microscope image of the composite suggests that the nanoflake is arranged as a parallel conduction medium, it is demonstrated that direct flake-flake conduction can form heat-transfer passages, which contributes to the higher thermal conductivity of the composite in horizontal direction. Also, MGNH/EP shows excellent flame retardant properties, evidenced by the dramatically reduced peak heat release rate and 51% of total heat release values compared with neat EP obtained from a microcombustion calorimeter. The reduced fire hazard can mainly attributed to the synergistic effects of melamine resin and graphite nanoflakes.