Functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes with monocomponent intumescent flame retardant for reducing the flammability and smoke emission characteristics of epoxy resins. (22nd August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Zhisheng; Deng, Nan; Yan, Long; Chu, Zhiyong
• Is Part Of: Polymers for advanced technologies. Volume 29:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 3002
• Page End: 3013
• Publication Date: 2018-08-22
• Subjects: flame retardancy -- intumescent flame retardant -- multiwalled carbon nanotubes -- smoke suppression -- thermal stability; Polymers -- Periodicals; 668.9
• DOI: 10.1002/pat.4420
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-7147

Abstract

Abstract : A novel monocomponent intumescent flame retardant named pentaerythritol phosphate melamine salt (PPMS)‐functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PPMS‐CNT) was synthesized via grafting PPMS on the surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and thoroughly characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectrometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM)‐energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric (TG) analyses. Then, PPMS‐CNT was incorporated into epoxy resins (EPs) to investigate flame‐retardant and smoke suppression properties. The results show that the addition of PPMS‐CNT increases the limited oxygen index (LOI) and UL94 rating of EP composites, and the LOI value of EP‐3 containing 15 wt% PPMS‐CNT is increased to 24.5%. Cone calorimeter test indicates that the heat release and smoke production of EP composites are gradually decreased with increasing PPMS‐CNT content concomitant with the increase in the intumescent factor and residual weight. Thermogravimetric analysis shows that the thermal stability and char‐forming ability of the EP composites are increasingly improved with increasing PPMS‐CNT content. Char residue analysis reveals that the same addition of PPMS‐CNT tends to form a more continuous and compact char than that of PPMS because of more phosphorus‐rich cross‐linking char and aromatic char remained in the condensed phase, thus exhibiting higher flame‐retardant and smoke suppression efficiencies in EP matrix. Overall, PPMS‐CNT can serve as a promising monocomponent intumescent flame retardant for reducing the flammability and smoke emission characteristics of EP materials.