Abstract
Zinc borate nanowhiskers 4ZnO·B2O3·H2O were in situ successfully synthesized via one‐step precipitation reaction. A set of experiments was performed to evaluate the influence of reaction temperature. Increasing the temperature up to 70°C led to the high purity of zinc borate nanowhiskers with a monoclinic crystal structure measuring 50 nm to 100 nm in diameter and approximately 1 µm in length. However, higher temperature decreases the crystallization due to the emergence of other styles of zinc borate. Flame‐resistant nanocomposites of polystyrene and zinc borate nanowhiskers were also successfully synthesized. The samples were investigated by XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and TG. The mechanical properties of the composites were also tested. The incorporation of zinc borate nanowhiskers improved the thermal and mechanical properties for polystyrene. FESEM images show that zinc borate nanowhiskers increased the smoothness of composites. The composites presented good responsive behavior in relation to LOI (limiting oxygen index) allowing them to be suitable for green flame retardants.
Highlights
Zinc borate is a commonly used material in a variety of industries
1.91 g of Na2B4O7⋅10 H2O and 0.5 g of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) are dissolved in 50 mL of distilled water at room temperature in a 1 L constant temperature water bath reactor equipped with a reflux condenser and a mechanical stirrer operating at 300 rpm
When the reaction temperature is increased to 70∘C, highintensity peaks are observed at 2θ = 16.40∘, 20.35∘, and 36.35∘ (Figure 1, b), indicating that the organized microporous framework in the sample is composed of a structure which is in good agreement with the crystal structure of zinc borate [18]
Summary
Zinc borate is a commonly used material in a variety of industries. It is used as a lubricating oil additive and in refractory ceramic materials, nonlinear optical materials, and solid electrode materials, but its use in fire retardants is its most typical application [1,2,3]. Zinc borate is naturally occurring but it is synthesized and is used as an inorganic fire retardant material because of its high surface area and its good mechanical properties. The addition of zinc borate has been demonstrated to improve the fire retardant properties of polymers [4].
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.
