Effect of Bio‐Based Cobalt Alginate on the Fire Safety and Mechanical Properties for Epoxy Resin

Abstract

AbstractThere is a growing demand to develop epoxy resins (EP) with smoke suppression as well as satisfactory flame retardancy. Herein, bio‐based cobalt alginate is successfully fabricated and incorporated into EP to prepare EP/Cobalt Alginate composites with better fire safety performance. The addition of cobalt alginate reduces the thermal‐decomposition rate, temperature at maximum weight‐loss rate of EP, whereas obviously improves the thermal stabilities at a higher temperature range. Furthermore, the addition of cobalt alginate substantially reduces the fire hazard of EP, resulting in 56.2% reduction in peak heat release rate, as well as 17.8% and 56.3% reduction in total smoke production and peak smoke production rate, respectively, compared with EP matrix. Moreover, the presence of cobalt alginate increases smoke‐suppressant properties, according to the smoke density test. Additionally, the incorporation of cobalt alginate has no obviously destructive effect on the mechanical properties of EP, while EP/Cobalt Alginate‐3 exhibits a 27.0% improvement in impact strength. In prospective, this study may provide a significant method for producing eco‐friendly flame retardant EP.