Peak Heat Release Rate Research Articles

Characterization of pressure oscillations and combustion noise of hydrogen reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI)

Knock and combustion noise are the main reasons limiting the increase in hydrogen (H2) replacement rate in H2 reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI). This study aims to identify the knock-dominated mechanism and elucidate the characteristics of knock and combustion noise of H2 RCCI operated at a broad range of parameters through the combined analysis of the heat release profile and pressure oscillations. The results indicated that under inhomogeneous heat release conditions, the onset of pressure oscillations is mainly attributed to the local fast heat release at the initial combustion stage, but for the conditions with relatively homogeneous and high-reactivity mixture, the pressure oscillations are primarily excited by the end-gas autoignition. Compared with the single injection strategy, the double injection strategy with the first and second start of injection of −60 and −15°CA ATDC (SOI1/2 = −60/-15°CA ATDC) can effectively mitigate the pressure oscillations and shorten the propagation period of pressure waves. However, as the SOI2 is advanced to −30°CA ATDC, the pressure oscillations dramatically increase, because the enhanced fuel reactivity of premixed H2 exacerbates the end-gas autoignition. The results of frequency analysis of in-cylinder pressures show that with the increase in inhomogeneous combustion, the first resonance frequency reduces. As the intake pressure (Pin) is raised from 1.2 to 1.6 bar, the first resonance energy increases, since the elevated in-cylinder temperature associated with the piston compression during the compression stroke enhances the propagation and development of pressure waves. The high-order resonance is closely related to the autoignition of end gas with higher fuel reactivity. Overall, the combustion noise shows a good linear correlation with peak heat release rate for all the points investigated in this work, but the linearity of H2/polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers RCCI is better than that of H2/diesel RCCI. Moreover, with the increase in Pin, the engine noise associated with the piston compression increases.

A novel macromolecular flame retardant based on sulfonyl diphenol monomer for simultaneous fire safety, transparency and high performance of thin-walled polycarbonate

In order to further advance the development of transparency, fire safety, and high-performance thin-walled polycarbonate (PC), it is essential to avoid the negative impact of traditional flame retardants on the overall performance of PC. In this work, a new copolymer polycarbonate (ASPC) containing sulfonyl diphenol monomer was synthesized by interfacial polycondensation, and it was used as a flame retardant for PC. Due to the fact that the compounds containing sulfonic acid groups produced by the decomposition of ASPC in a high temperature environment promote the crosslinking and rearrangement of PC, the PC can generate a denser char layer during combustion, thus effectively preventing the exchange of heat and gas inside and outside the matrix. To addition of 20 wt% ASPC can make PC with a thickness of 1.5 mm to pass the UL 94 V-0 rating and LOI increased to 33.5 %. The peak of heat release rate (PHRR) and smoke produce rate (PSPR) of PC/ASPC-20 was decreased by 32.4 % and 38.4 %, respectively. More importantly, the addition of ASPC can delay the speed of flame spread, provide people with more escape time and reduce the fire hazard. Furthermore, the ASPC is good compatibility with PC due to the structural similarity between ASPC and PC. Therefore, PC/ASPC maintains the comparable transparency and tensile properties of PC. The transmittance of PC/ASPC-20 is 87.7 %, and the elongation at break is 32.5 % higher than that of PC. This work provides a new solution for the preparation of flame-retardant modification of transparent and thin-walled PC, and expands the application scope of PC composites.

Application of aluminum diethyl hypophosphite, iron-based metal organic framework-NH2-MIL-53(Fe), and expandable graphite complexes as flame retardants for high-density polyethylene

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites are made by melt blending HDPE with MIL-53(Fe), amino-functionalized NH2-MIL-53(Fe), aluminum diethyl hypophosphite (ADP), and expandable graphite (EG). The experimental disclosed showed that the aminated NH2-MIL-53(Fe) could improve residual carbon quality and exert a better flame retardant effect than MIL-53(Fe). When 25 wt% of EG/ADP/NH2-MIL-53(Fe) was added and the ratio of EG to ADP/ NH2-MIL-53(Fe) was 1:1, HDPE/EG/ADP/NH2-MIL-53(Fe) composites could achieve a limiting oxygen index of 31.1 %, which passed UL-94 testing and was rated V-0. This results in a considerable improvement in flame retardant efficiency as the peak heat release rate was lowered by 83.4 % and the total heat release was reduced by 35.8 % when compared to the pure HDPE material. Therefore, NH2-MIL-53(Fe)/ADP/EG synergistic flame retardancy can lead to high flame retardancy efficiency in HDPE. This provided a new potential direction for the preparation of highly efficient flame retardants.

Inclusion of modified nano-magnesium hydroxide as an adjuvant flame retardant in the development of PLA/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

For the preparation of thermal stable and flame-retardant polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites two new modified nano-structures including imide-carboxylated chitosan modified Mg(OH)2 (ICMH) and imide-silane functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (ISHA) were prepared. The structure, morphology, and properties of ICMH and ISHA were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PLA nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting method. The results of Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SEM indicated a homogeneous structure for the PLA nanocomposites. The TGA results revealed that the presence of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA) led to increase the thermal resistance of the PLA nanocomposites containing Mg(OH)2 (MDH). Compared to pure PLA, the Tmax value of the PLA sample containing 3 wt% of each filler (the PMH6 sample) enhanced from 364°C to 372°C. The results from the microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) test illustrated that the key parameter values of the PLA nanocomposites were reduced, as compared to the pure PLA. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) and heat release capacity (HRC) values of PMH6 decreased 27% and 35%, respectively, as compared to the pure PLA. Also, flammability of PMH6 was reduced, as compared to the pure PLA, with UL-94 V-1 rating and LOI value 26.8%. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the mentioned sample increased from 36.04 MPa to 38.58 MPa.

A novel bio-based ferric flame retardant effectively improving the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polylactic acid

PTDF is prepared by a convenient ionic reaction of phytic acid, terephthalic dihydrazide and iron salts in water. PTDF has high phosphorus and nitrogen content and good thermal stability, which can effectively improve the flame retardancy of PLA. PTFE is an anti-drip agent and is often used to improve the flame retardancy of PLA together with flame retardants. The addition of 4 wt% PTDF and 0.1 wt% PTFE made PLA reach V-0 flame retardant grade from non-flame retardant, and the oxygen index increased from 19.5 % to 24.5 %. With the increase of PTDF content, the performance of PLA improved significantly. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) and THR of PLA/6PTDF composites decrease by 27.4 % and 16.2 %, respectively, and the flame retardant index FRI increase by 232 %, showing excellent flame retardant efficiency. 6 wt% PTDF can increase the crystallinity of PLA by 25.9 %, tensile strength, maximum force required for impact fracture and notch impact strength by 12 %, 37 % and 129 %, respectively, and effectively improve the mechanical properties and toughness of the composite. The bio-based flame-retardant PLA/PTDF composites reported in this paper can be applied to office equipment.

Eco-friendly flame retardant comprising chitosan-based effectively enhances the flame retardancy of wood with low weight percent gain

Nowadays, there are many types of flame retardants, whether halogenated or halogen-free, that can improve the flame retardancy of wood. However, they continue to pose a significant threat to our environment and cause a substantial increase in the weight gain rates after treatment. It is highly desirable yet challenging to develop an eco-friendly and efficient flame retardant with low weight gain rates. Here, we report a simple and fast process for making eco-friendly flame retardants (chitosan, gelatin, sodium phytate and clay) with weight gain rates of 3.7 %, which form excellent flame retardancy systems. This method can be used to create a 53.5 % reduction in peak heat release rate (pHRR) an 189 % increase in ignition time (cone colorimeter), and a 71.9 % reduction in peak temperature (alcohol spray lamps) compared to raw wood. The results displayed that the effect of flame retardancy (Decreased ratio for pHRR/Weight percent gain) was the best in the past three years. In addition, the flame retardancy mechanism is thoroughly analyzed using the techniques of Raman and so on. This study proposes a novel strategy featured by eco-friendly and simple preparation process for enhancing the flame retardancy of wood in important areas.

Efficient flame retardancy of polypropylene by cobalt ions doped phytate melamine synergized with expandable graphite

Maintaining a delicate balance between flame retardancy and amount of expandable graphite (EG) in flame retardant polypropylene (PP) is still a formidable challenge, primarily due to the lower flame-retardant efficiency of EG. In order to address this concern, a novel cobalt-doped nanosheet flame retardant (PAMA-Co) was fabricated by a hydrothermal method utilizing phytic acid (PA) and melamine (MA), exhibiting a promising potential in constructing synergistic EG flame retardant PP. Significantly, the incorporation of only 7 wt% PAMA-Co/23 wt% EG system raises the limiting oxygen index (LOI) of PP to 27.3% and UL-94 V0 level, which indicates the excellent synergistic flame-retardant efficiency of PAMA-Co. Furthermore, both the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and the peak smoke production rate (PSPR) of PP composites with 7 wt% PAMA-Co/23 wt% EG are substantially reduced, exhibiting an 81.6% lower PHRR and 87.8% PSPR compared to pure PP. The excellent flame-retardant efficiency is attributed to the following mechanisms: Gas-phase dilution, catalytic cross-linking charring effect, and the suppression of the EG "popcorn effect" of PAMA-Co. In summary, this work not only advances an understanding of flame-retardant mechanisms but also offers a practical, green strategy for enhancing the safety and utility of PP in various applications.

Schiff base approach to introduce chitosan-phytic acid complex for flame-retardant cotton fabrics

In this study, chitosan was integrated onto cotton fabric fibers through a Schiff base reaction, followed by the in-situ generation of Chitosan-Phytic acid (CH-PA) complex to achieve green flame retardancy. The process began with oxidizing the fabric using sodium periodate (NaIO4) to create numerous aldehyde groups on the fiber surface. Subsequently, CH was grafted onto the fabric via a Schiff base reaction. The fabric was then immersed in a PA solution to form a CH-PA complex, resulting in a novel and highly efficient flame-retardant (FR) fabric. The structure of the treated fabric was analyzed by using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), confirming the successful formation of the desired structure. The thermal stability and flame retardancy of the fabric were systematically evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), cone calorimetry (CONE), vertical combustion tests, and limiting oxygen index (LOI) measurements. The LOI increased from 17.6 % to 30.6 %, and vertical combustion tests demonstrated self-extinguishing capabilities when the fabric was treated by the NaIO4 solution at concentrations of 0.02 g/mL or higher. In the CONE test, the modified fabric showed significant improvements, with peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) decreasing by approximately 80 % and 60 %, respectively. Comprehensive analysis indicated that the FR mechanism involved both gas phase and condensed phase actions. Further characterization of the material included tensile testing and wash resistance assessments. By comparing these findings with recent research on similar topics, the advantages and disadvantages of the materials were thoroughly evaluated. Notably, this work provides a robust experimental foundation and conceptual expansion for the green flame retardancy of cotton fabrics.

Preparation and characterization of HNTs@ZIF enhanced intrinsic flame retardant RTV silicone rubber

Phenylphosphonyl dichloride (BPOD) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) were used to prepare phosphorus-nitrogen hexaethoxysilane (BPTES). BPTES was then used for cross-linking and curing hydroxyl-terminated room-temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber, providing intrinsic flame retardancy. In addition, halloysite (HNTs) is a kind of tubular silicate, taking advantage of its large aspect ratio, HNTs were used as a template to load ZIF67 on the surface of halloysite to obtain HNTs@ZIF tubular filler. It was added to the above system as a reinforcing and flame-retardant filler by physical blending, and the RTV elastomer with excellent performance was prepared. The successful preparation of phosphorus-containing crosslinkers (BPTES) was demonstrated by FT-IR. After the introduction of the new crosslinker, RTV not only has improved flame retardant performance, but also improved mechanical properties. The tensile strength and elongation at break of RTV with 20 wt.% BPTES are increased by 151% and 211%, respectively. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) and the peak of smoke production rate (pSPR) are reduced by 55.9% and 48.6%, respectively, and the thermal stability is also improved. In addition, the successful preparation of HNTs@ZIF was confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, and TEM. By introducing 2 wt.% HNTs@ZIF into 20 wt.% BPTES cured RTV, the intrinsically flame-retardant RTVs with enhanced performance were prepared. It is worth noting that when 2 wt.% HNTs@ZIF is added, the flame retardant and smoke suppression properties of phosphorus-containing silicone rubber are further improved. Because the ZIF contains cobalt metal ions that can be catalyzed into carbon. The pHRR and pSPR decrease by 18.3% and 16.3%, respectively, and the total heat release (THR) and total smoke production (TSP) decrease by 23.6% and 24.4%, respectively. This work will provide enlightenment for the study of intrinsic flame-retardant RTVs enhanced by modified halloysite.

MOF-derived strategy for in-situ assembly of nickel phyllosilicate nanoflowers: Enhancing smoke suppression, flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resins

Epoxy resin (EP) is a highly versatile polymer extensively used in high-end applications, including aerospace components, electronics encapsulation and adhesives. To custom-design flame retardant materials for high-performance epoxy resins, a MOF-derived zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@nickel phyllosilicate (ZIF@Ni-PS) was synthesized through the in-situ assembly of nickel phyllosilicate nanoflowers. The results showed that the smoke suppression, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties of the EP composites containing 5 wt% ZIF@Ni-PS were significantly enhanced. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) and the peak smoke production rate (pSPR) were reduced by 33.2% and 12.7%, respectively. The presence of ZIF@Ni-PS promoted the formation of a dense, high-quality carbon layer that isolated heat and oxygen transfer, effectively reducing heat release during combustion and suppressing smoke generation. Furthermore, the imidazole ring and Zn ions on the surface of ZIF@Ni-PS facilitated the formation of coordination and hydrogen bonds with the epoxy (EP), thereby enhancing the dispersion, compatibility, and mechanical properties of the epoxy resin matrix. This study presents a straightforward preparation method for high-performance EP composites, providing a novel pathway for EP research.

Investigating Intumescent Flame-Retardant Additives in Polyurethane Foam to Improve the Flame Resistance and Sustainability of Aircraft Cabin Materials

Polyurethane (PU) foam has a high flammability and is widely used in aircraft interiors, presenting a significant danger to occupants. This study analysed three composite intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) coatings for flexible PU foam; expandable graphite (EG), ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and alginate (AG). The coatings were prepared in concentrations of 5 wt%, 10 wt%, and 50 wt% with an acrylic binder. The coated samples were characterised using cone calorimetry, SEM, and mechanical testing. The findings showed peak heat release rate, total heat release, and carbon dioxide production from the 10 wt% triple-layer coating (EG:APP:AG) was 52%, 32%, and 58% less than the PU control. The char of the 10 wt% triple-layer sample effectively suppressed smoke release and inhibited the transfer of fuel and gas volatiles. Mechanical testing demonstrated a 3.4 times increase in tensile strength and a 15.4 times increase in compressive strength (50% compression) compared to the control PU with the 10 wt% triple-layer coating. A fire dynamics simulator model was developed that demonstrated large-scale flammability modelling for commercial aircraft. Future work can explore the integration of IFR coatings into computational analysis. These new bio-based coatings produced promising results for aircraft fire safety and flammability performance for PU polymers.

Linear polydichlorophosphazene and Ti3C2Tx MXene nanohybrids: Synthesis and application to epoxy resin to improve the fire safety and mechanical properties

Enhancing the fire safety of epoxy resins (EPs) typically requires a significant amount of flame retardants, which often results in considerable degradation of their mechanical properties. To address this issue, a novel flame retardant known as PDCP@DPA@MXene was synthesized and integrated into EP to achieve notable improvements in flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and mechanical strength. By incorporating 1.5 wt% PDCP@DPA@MXene, the impact strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break of the resulting PDM-1.5 %/EP composite reached 12.1 kJ/m2, 57.4 MPa, and 13.0, respectively, reflecting enhancements of 63.5 %, 18.4 %, and 17.1 % compared to the pure EP. The enhancement in tensile strength may be attributed to the high rigidity of Ti3C2Tx MXene, which reinforces the EP matrix. Additionally, the intertwined structure of PDCP@DPA@MXene chains effectively mitigates material fracturing and absorbs impact forces, thus toughening the EP. The presence of phosphorus, nitrogen, and titanate in PDCP@DPA@MXene contributes to the formation of a more compact char layer. The PDM-1.5 %/EP sample achieved a V-0 rating in the vertical UL-94 test and exhibited a high limiting oxygen index of 32.0. Furthermore, the sample containing 2 wt% PDCP@DPA@MXene showed a significant reduction in peak heat release rate (p-HRR) and total heat release (THR), recording values of 689 kW/m2 and 71.9 MJ/m2, which are decreases of 45.1 % and 26.9 %, respectively, compared to pure EP. Additionally, the incorporation of PDCP@DPA@MXene led to a reduction in CO production. These flame-retarded EPs demonstrate strong potential for various applications due to their elevated glass transition temperature and robust thermal stability.

Hydrogen-bonded organic framework for fire-safe epoxy composite with photochromic properties and rapid de-icing capability

Multifunctionalized epoxy resin (EP) composites are essential for advancing technological innovation across various applications. One efficient method to achieve this is through the development of multifunctional EP fillers. In this work, 2,4,6-tri(pyridin-4-yl)pyridine (Tripp) as electron acceptor and phosphoric acid as electron donor are self-assembled to form a donor–acceptor (D-A) type hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF, named P-HOF) using a solvent volatilization method. P-HOF exhibits excellent photochromic and photothermal properties under 365 nm UV irradiation. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirms the generation of viologen radicals, and the internal electron transfer mechanism of P-HOF is further elucidated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, incorporating 3 wt% P-HOF into EP as a filler results in an EP/P-HOF composite that not only retains excellent photochromic and photothermal properties but also demonstrates rapid de-icing and outstanding flame retardancy. The EP/P-HOF coating demonstrates a de-icing efficiency that is 3.83 times higher than that of pure EP coatings. Compared to pure EP, the EP/P-HOF significantly reduced the peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), and peak smoke production rate (pSPR) by 55.0 %, 19.6 %, and 29.6 %, respectively.

Urchin-like NiCo-based bimetallic hydroxide decorated with DOPO as highly hydrophobic flame retardant for remarkably reducing fire hazard of poly (L-lactic acid)

Designing high-performance flame retardants for poly (L-lactic acid) (PLA) materials and exploring a simple and scalable strategy have been hot topics in research. In this work, a novel and highly efficient flame retardant, that is, 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) decorated urchin-like NiCo-based bimetallic hydroxide (NiCo-BH@DOPO), was synthesized and incorporated into PLA to prepare PLA and NiCo-BH@DOPO (PLA/NiCo-BH@DOPO) composite. Benefiting from the DOPO organic modification, NiCo-BH@DOPO had superb hydrophobicity and presented excellent dispersion in the PLA matrix. When 20 wt% NiCo-BH@DOPO was added, the LOI value of PLA/NiCo-BH@DOPO composites reached 33.2 %, passed the V-0 level of UL-94 grade, and its maximum peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) were reduced by 13.2 % and 17.3 %, respectively, compared with PLA/NiCo-BH composites. Furthermore, the residue of PLA/NiCo-BH@DOPO at 800 °C reached 19.8 wt% and the T10% (temperature at 10 % weight loss) increased by 33 °C. More importantly, the residual PLA/NiCo-BH@DOPO char exhibits a significantly reduced presence of large cracks compared to PLA/NiCo-BH, indicating a more compact formation of residual char. NiCo-BH@DOPO endowed PLA with outstanding flame retardancy, thermal stability and carbonization properties, which were owing to the multi-coordinating effect transition metal (NiCo-BH) catalyzed the char formation to form a char layer barrier and DOPO free radicals captured to inhibit the combustion reaction chain. This investigation provided a facile strategy for the novel multi-function NiCo-based bimetallic hydroxide flame retardant, expanding NiCo-BH potential applications in PLA.

Sustainable lignosulfonate-modified PA6.6 fabrics to improve durable flame retardancy, hydrophilicity and mechanical performance

Creating durable flame retardancy, enhanced mechanical performance, and hydrophilic polyamide 6.6 (PA6.6) textiles via cost-effectiveness from sustainable renewable sources is a considerable challenge. This study introduces a pretreatment process involving the application of sodium lignosulfonate (LS) to the surface of PA6.6 fabrics, thereby enhancing their hydrophilic and flame-retardant properties. Subsequently, a layer-by-layer (LbL) nanocoating treatment is employed, utilizing renewable polyelectrolytes—chitosan (CS), LS, and poly (sodium phosphate) (PSP)—to create 8-bilayer (BL) and 4-quarda layer (QL) structures that further improve the hydrophilicity and durable flame resistance of PA6.6 fabrics. The combined LS-modified and LbL coatings notably increased the limiting oxygen index (LOI) values from 19.5 % to 22.5 %, eliminated melt dripping, and secured a V-1 rating in the vertical burning (UL-94) tests. Moreover, the treated fabrics exhibited a 43 % reduction in the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and a lower fire growth rate (FGR) of 0.84 W/g·s, with a significant increase in char yield% in both air and nitrogen (N2) atmospheres. A cross-linked network structure is responsible for the superior hydrophilicity, enhanced tensile strength, and fabric softening properties. The self-crosslinking of sulfur-containing radicals with amide units ensures an anti-dripping performance that can withstand up to 30 home laundering cycles, demonstrating remarkable washing durability. However, a convincing approach has been developed for sustainable and high-performance materials for the textile industry, and a simple LbL technique using renewable polyelectrolytes that have traditionally been utilized in water treatment and food processing has been developed.

Facile preparation of heptazine-covered Fe2O3 and its synergistic effect on the enhanced flame retardance of silicone rubber composite

The flammability of silicone rubber (SR) significantly limits its broad use in areas that require high flame retardancy. In this study, heptazine-covered Fe2O3, which exhibits effective flame retardancy, was prepared using simple ball milling and heat treatment, which are advantageous for large-scale production. The prepared filler was incorporated into SR. The addition of 7.02 wt% FM filler increased the thermal degradation onset temperature at 5 % weight loss from 492.5 °C for neat SR to 502.7 °C (FM 1:1 composite). Moreover, the peak heat release rate and peak smoke production rate of the FM 1:1 composite significantly decreased by 43.15 % and 68.42 %, respectively, indicating a significant enhancement in the fire safety and smoke suppression of the FM composites. The chemical, morphological, and electronic structures of the FM fillers, pyrolysis gas production, and char residue were thoroughly investigated to reveal the possible flame-retarding mechanisms of the SR composites.

Preparation of biobased guar gum polyelectrolyte complex coatings by sol‐gel method for improving the flame retardancy of ramie fabrics

AbstractIn this study, to improve the flame‐retardant properties of ramie fabrics (RFs), a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) was prepared in a one‐step process using biobased guar gum (GG), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and deposited on the surface of the RF to construct an intumescent flame‐retardant coating. Fabrics treated with PEC coatings exhibited excellent flame‐retardant properties. Specifically, the cone calorimeter test results revealed that an increase in sample weight of only 13.23 wt% resulted in significant reductions in the peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), and fire growth rate (FGR) of 91.37%, 65.12%, and 95.28%, respectively. Additionally, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) increased from 19.4% to 33.5%, and the fabrics self‐extinguished immediately after the ignition source was removed during the UL‐94 test. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the char residue revealed expansion bubbles on the surface, suggesting that the PEC coating provides flame retardancy through a synergistic effect involving both the gas phase and the condensed phase. This study provides a simple and convenient solution for realizing green and efficient flame‐retardant coatings on RF.

Multi-functional flame-retardant epoxy resin featuring diverse crosslinking networks

High-performance epoxy resins (EPs) with ultimate flame retardancy, particularly in terms of smoke suppression (as asphyxiation is the primary cause of death in fires), remain a significant challenge. To address this issue, we propose a feasible multiple crosslinking strategy by incorporating an additive flame retardant (abbreviated as BPPDN) containing self-crosslinking groups to construct multi-crosslinking networks during the curing of EPs. Using this strategy, the BPPDN/EP flame-retardant samples achieved a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test in the absence of conventional flame-retardant elements such as halogens or phosphorus. Among the rest, 15BPPDN/EP had remarkable low fire hazards, with total smoke production and peak heat release rate reduced by 38.7 % and 22.2 %, respectively. Surprisingly, the 15BPPDN/EP material maintained its high transparency, excellent ultraviolet shielding, and dielectric properties (specifically, the dielectric constant decreased from 5.19 to 3.46; the dielectric loss decreased from 0.0066 to 0.0045), as well as its ultrahigh tensile strength (increased by 63 %), flexural strength (by 48 %) and impact strength (by 75 %). This paper investigates in detail the effects of BPPDN on the curing process, thermal properties, mechanical properties, dielectric properties, and flame retardancy of EPs, providing a new direction for the design of highly transparent, multifunctional high-performance flame-retardant thermosetting resins without the need for conventional flame-retardant elements.

Multi-scale ceramic self-extinguishing fire retardant coating based on scale armor layer

Currently, designing an efficient and broadly applicable (suitable for foams, wood, steel, plastic) fire-retardant coating remains a significant challenge. This work introduces a multi-scale micro-nanostructured hybrid fireproof coating. The composite features basic fillers that include ceramic glass microspheres, while its interior comprises an inorganic aerogel made from nano black phosphorus and silicon dioxide nanofibers for reinforcement, with a phosphorus-containing acrylic polymer serving as the base. Upon exposure to elevated temperatures, the coating’s surface transforms into a solid char layer resembling scale armor, effectively functioning as a robust fire barrier to protect the underlying substrate. The coating treated rigid polyurethane foam achieved an exceptionally high Limiting Oxygen Index of 45 %, outperforming comparable products. In terms of flame retardancy and smoke suppression, this innovative coating significantly reduces Peak Heat Release Rate (50.3 %) and Total Smoke Production (54.9 %). Notably, it exhibits rapid self-extinguishing capabilities within seconds during butane flame tests at temperatures exceeding 1100 °C, demonstrating remarkable resistance to high-temperature flames. This research offers a straightforward methodology for developing high-performance fireproof coatings, with promising applications across various industrial settings.

Synergic effect between La-MOF and MXene: Revolutionizing TPU with improved mechanical strength and fire safety

Two-dimensional MXene nanosheets with lamellar structure and high specific surface area are considered promising flame retardants for polymers. However, MXene easily accumulates in polymer materials, resulting in the impairment of their mechanical properties. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) not only address this issue effectively but also improve compatibility with polymer materials due to their organic components. In this work, lanthanide rare-earth MOF (La-MOF) were successfully grown in-situ on the MXene surface to prepare hybrid flame retardants (La-MOF@MXene), then added to thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The La-MOF suppressed the accumulation of MXene in TPU, and the synergistic effect between them improved the fire safety and mechanical strength of TPU composites. The peak heat release rate of the TPU composites with the addition of 3 wt% La-MOF@MXene was 473.3 kW/m2, which represented a 49.4 % decrease compared to that of pure TPU. Besides, due to the synergic properties of MXene and La-MOF, La-MOF@MXene further reduced total smoke, CO2, and CO of TPU composites in fires. Moreover, with the addition of 3.0 wt% La-MOF@MXene, the tensile strength and elongation at break of TPU composites dramatically improved to 42.4 MPa and 686 %, respectively. Therefore, this study provides a novel paradigm for preparing hybrid flame retardants that can improve the fire safety and mechanical properties of TPU composites, exhibiting broad application prospects.