Abstract
Epoxy composites filled with 0.5 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 10 and 15 wt% of boric acid and sodium bicarbonate separately, as well as composites filled with a combination of MWCNTs-boric acid and MWCNTs-sodium bicarbonate were prepared. The thermal behavior of the prepared samples was investigated under heating in oxidative environment using thermogravimetric analysis. The hardness was measured using the Shore D hardness test. To evaluate the flammability of the samples, the ignition temperature and time-to-ignition were determined. It was concluded that sodium bicarbonate in the studied concentrations (10 and 15 wt%) is not appropriate for use as a filler capable of improving the thermooxidative stability and reducing the flammability of epoxy polymers. The improvement in the thermal properties can be achieved by using the combination of boric acid and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as fillers. The thermooxidative destruction of the samples filled with boric acid passes more slowly and more evenly via the formation of B2O3 as a result of its decomposition.
Highlights
Epoxy resins are widely used in industry as construction materials, adhesives, coatings, and matrices for advanced composites because of their superior mechanical and electrical properties, chemical resistance, and resistance to moisture [1,2,3,4]
The aim of this work is to study the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, boric acid, and sodium bicarbonate separately, and their combination on the thermooxidative degradation and flammability of the epoxy composites
The thermal properties of the epoxy composites filled with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (0.5 wt%), boric acid and sodium bicarbonate (10 and 15 wt%) separately, as well as in combination with MWCNTs, were compared to those of the control unfilled sample
Summary
Epoxy resins are widely used in industry as construction materials, adhesives, coatings, and matrices for advanced composites because of their superior mechanical and electrical properties, chemical resistance, and resistance to moisture [1,2,3,4]. The use of nanosized additives at low loading can contribute to solving the problem of reducing the flammability of polymers [9,10]. The introduction of nanoparticles into polymers leads to a change in its molecular structure and its topological and supermolecular levels, as well as the production of a significant modification of the structure and properties of the polymer material [11,12,13]. In this case, it is expected to increase the thermal stability and reduce
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