Surface engineering and functionalization of MoS2-based nanoarchitecture for constructing epoxy composites with excellent fire resistance and mechanical properties

Abstract

To overcome the shortcomings of epoxy resins (EP) such as high flammability and emission of toxic gases, a MoS2-based nanoarchitecture (CeZrOx-MoS2@PDA) was designed and prepared through surface engineering and functionalization method. At 2 wt% incorporation, the nanoarchitectures were homogeneously dispersed in EP matrix, showing good conditions for the formation of strong labyrinth barrier effect. Concurrently, EP/CeZrOx-MoS2@PDA offered enhanced thermal stability with higher char residues and lower maximum weight loss rate (MLR) value. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and smoke factor (SF) of EP/CeZrOx-MoS2@PDA were reduced by 35.5%, 29.1% and 54.5%, respectively, while the CO release rate and CO2 release rate were dropped significantly, which was associated with the strong labyrinth effect, good char-forming effect and beneficial free radical quenching effect of CeZrOx-MoS2@PDA nanoarchitecture. Moreover, the ternary nanoarchitecture also resulted in a 56.8% increase in the storage modulus of EP composites. Therefore, the CeZrOx-MoS2@PDA developed in this work contributed to the generation of high performance EP with excellent fire resistance and mechanical properties, providing a promising strategy for the design of superior EP composites.