Abstract
Recent discoveries of two-dimensional transitional metal based materials have emerged as an excellent candidate for fabricating nanostructured flame-retardants. Herein, we report an eco-friendly flame-retardant for flexible polyurethane foam (PUF), which is synthesised by hybridising MXene (Ti_3hbox {C}_2) with biomass materials including phytic acid (PA), casein, pectin, and chitosan (CH). Results show that coating PUFs with 3 layers of CH/PA/Ti_3hbox {C}_2 via layer-by-layer approach reduces the peak heat release and total smoke release by 51.1% and 84.8%, respectively. These exceptional improvements exceed those achieved by a CH/Ti_3hbox {C}_2 coating. To further understand the fundamental flame and smoke reduction phenomena, a pyrolysis model with surface regression was developed to simulate the flame propagation and char layer. A genetic algorithm was utilised to determine optimum parameters describing the thermal degradation rate. The superior flame-retardancy of CH/PA/Ti_3hbox {C}_2 was originated from the shielding and charring effects of the hybrid MXene with biomass materials containing aromatic rings, phenolic and phosphorous compounds.
Highlights
Recent discoveries of two-dimensional transitional metal based materials have emerged as an excellent candidate for fabricating nanostructured flame-retardants
According to the CO2 release curves in Fig. 6f, the [CH/phytic acid (PA)/Ti3C2]3 coating showed the best performance in lowering CO2, with a reduction of 68% in the CO2 P compared with the neat polyurethane foam (PUF)
In terms of the number of MXene monolayers applied within the polymer matrix, it was identified that our present work significantly outperformed previous work in terms of peak heat release rate (pHRR), peak smoke production rate (PSPR), total smoke release (TSR), PCOPR and PCO2PR
Summary
Recent discoveries of two-dimensional transitional metal based materials have emerged as an excellent candidate for fabricating nanostructured flame-retardants. This is due to the synergistic charring effect of the nanostructured FRs. The outer coating layers containing abundant organic materials were first to degrade before the PUF, which results in the first heat release peak. During the horizontal tests of the [CH/PA/Ti3C2]2 coated PUFs, the flame and smoke were further suppressed, and the burning rate was reduced to 173 mm/min.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
