Fabrication of hierarchical core–shell carbon microspheres@ layered double hydroxide@ polyphosphazene architecture in flame‐retarding polypropylene

Abstract

Developing advanced performance polypropylene (PP) composites with less smoke, eco-friendly and efficient flame retardants (FRs) has been a growing focus of research. In particular, it was significant to reduce the emissions of smoke and toxic gases generated during the burning of PP so that it meets green and safe industrial requirements. In this work, a CMSs@LDH@PZN hierarchical core–shell framework was designed and synthesized by using carbon microspheres (CMSs) and layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheets connected to CMSs by electrostatic forces with polyphosphazene (PZN). The structure, composition and morphology of CMSs@LDH@PZN were characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD and TG, and the results were shown the triumphant preparation of the well-designed hierarchical core–shell structure CMSs@LDH@PZN. Additionally, the total smoke production, peak heat release rate and total heat release rate of PP/CMSs@LDH@PZN composites were decreased by 56.2%, 41% and 43.4%, respectively. With the addition of 20 wt% CMSs@LDH@PZN alone, the PP/CMSs@LDH@PZN composites reached a V-0 rating in the Vertical combustion tester (UL-94), and had a limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of 29.6%. Moreover, the heat release and toxic smoke emission were significantly lessened, which can be own to the adsorption of core–shell hybrid materials and the barrier effect of the P and N element crosslinked carbon layer. Herein, this work extends the idea of preparing multipurpose high-performance composites and designs and synthesizes an eco-friendly and efficient flame retardant with a double shell structure.