Total Smoke Release Research Articles

Rapid Growth of Ag Nanoparticles on MoS2 Surfaces: An Effective Method to Improve Fire Safety and Mechanical Properties of Ethylene‐Vinyl Acetate Composites

ABSTRACTTwo‐dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets are promising nanofillers for improving the properties of polymers, but low‐cost, facile and green methods need to be further explored to meet the requirements for large‐scale production of modified MoS2 nanosheets. Here, we developed a new idea that is, to prepare MoS2@Ag by modifying the surface of MoS2 using radiative reduction. It is noteworthy that the modified MoS2@Ag can effectively improve the mechanical strength of ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) composites. In addition, the addition of MoS2@Ag was able to substantially improve the flame‐retardant properties of EVA, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of heat and smoke released from its combustion. When two parts of MoS2@Ag were added, the peak heat release rate and total smoke release of EVA/2.0MoS2@Ag composites were reduced by 29.7% and 39.2%, respectively, compared with that of pure EVA. At the same time, the toxic gases (e.g., CO) produced by the combustion of EVA composites were significantly reduced, which indicates an improvement in their fire safety.

A facile and sustainable preparation of effective biomass macromolecular flame retardants for epoxy resins with improved flame retardation, smoke suppression, and mechanical performance

AbstractThe preparation of biomass flame retardants with efficient flame‐retardant properties is conducive to the realization of sustainable development and is of great practical significance. In this work, a green and sustainable biomass flame retardant PATAPEI was prepared by using phytic acid (PA), tannic acid (TA), and polyethyleneimine (PEI) as reactants via a one‐step method to develop biomass flame retardants that can synchronize enhanced flame retardation, smoke suppression, and mechanical performance of epoxy resin (EP). The EP with only a 3% PATAPEI (EP/3PTP) has a LOI value of 28.5% with a UL‐94 V‐0 classification. The peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), and total smoke release (TSR) of EP/3PTP were decreased by 29.72%, 25.80%, and 21.16%, respectively, in comparison with the ones of pure EP. Additionally, the tensile and impact strengths of EP/3PTP are higher than the ones of pure EP. PATAPEI on heating decomposes to produce phosphorus‐containing acids and biphenyltriol‐containing compounds, which promote to form a good char layer with the aromatic structures during the combustion of EP/3PTP. Therefore, PATAPEI has prospects of wide application in the development of sustainable biomass flame retardant EP.

Study on Flame Retardancy of Cotton Fabric Modified by Sulfonic Groups Chelated with Ba2+

A simple and innovative method was introduced for the production of green and recoverable flame-retardant cotton fabrics, where sulfonated cotton fabric (COT-SC) was synthesized by oxidizing cotton fabric with sodium periodate, followed by a sulfonation step with sodium bisulfite to provide active sites, which further chelated barium ions (Ba2+) to achieve flame retardancy. The morphological and structural characterizations of the fabricated cotton fabrics (COT-SC-Ba) demonstrated that the cleavage of C2-C3 free hydroxy groups within the cellulose macromolecule was chemically modified for grafting a considerable number of sulfonic acid groups, and Ba2+ ions were effectively immobilized on the macromolecule of the cotton fabric through a chelation effect. Results from cone calorimeter tests (CCTs) revealed that COT-SC-Ba became nonflammable, displayed a delayed ignition time, and decreased the values of the heat release rate (HRR), total smoke release (TSR), effective heat of combustion (EHC), and CO/CO2 ratio. TG/DTG analysis demonstrated that COT-SC-Ba possessed greater thermal stability, fewer flammable volatiles, and more of a char layer during burning than that of the original cotton fabric. Its residual mass was increased from 0.02% to 26.9% in air and from 8.05% to 26.76% in N2, respectively. The COT-SC-Ba not only possessed a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of up to 34.4% but could also undergo vertical burning tests evidenced by results such as the non-afterflame, non-afterglow, and a mere 75 mm char length. Those results demonstrated that the combination of SO3− and Ba2+ promoted the formation of a char layer. Moreover, cotton fabric regained its superior flame retardancy after being washed and re-chelated with Ba2+. Additional characteristics of the cotton fabric, such as the rupture strength, white degree, and hygroscopicity, were maintained at an acceptable level. In conclusion, this research can offer a fresh perspective on the design and development of straightforward, efficient, eco-friendly, and recoverable fire-retardant fabrics.

Fire-safe and mechanically robust polycarbonate composite enabled by novel copolymerization/macromolecular blending strategy

Polycarbonate is a widely used engineering plastic material, but its limited flame retardancy has restricted its application in high-end fields such as aviation and railways. In this study, we propose a novel copolymerization/macromolecular blending strategy to produce a high-performance, fire-safe polycarbonate composite. By copolymerizing with polydimethylsiloxane oligomer and blending with macromolecular polyarylate, the resulting PC-BPDMS5/PITR successfully achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating and a high limiting oxygen index value of 34.2%. The peak heat release and total smoke release were significantly reduced by 45.2% and 27.4%, respectively, compared to pure PC. SEM, Raman, and XPS analyses confirmed the condensed-phase dominated flame-retardant mechanism, attributed to the char-forming ability of the polyarylate and polydimethylsiloxane segments. Polydimethylsiloxane segments can decompose to produce small molecules such as methane, and the left structure with silicon, which undergo cross-linking reactions with the substrate during combustion to promote char formation. The polyaromatic ring structure of PITR can also participate in the formation of a dense and stable char layer. The excellent compatibility between the polyarylate and the PC matrix, combined with the superior flexibility of polydimethylsiloxane, allowed the composite to maintain mechanical properties comparable to pure PC. Additionally, the increased molar volume resulted in a low dielectric constant for PC-BPDMS5/PITR. This work presents a promising approach for the development of high-performance polycarbonate composites.

Excellent flame retardant and tough epoxy thermosets with imidazolium tributyl phosphate ionic liquid

The brittleness and flammability of epoxy thermosets (EP) have largely limited their applications. In this work a phosphorus-containing ionic liquid 1-methylimidazolium tributyl phosphate ([Mim]TBP) is designed and synthesized to develop high-performance and flame-retardant epoxy thermosets. [Mim]TBP significantly accelerates the curing and improves the toughness of epoxy thermosets. The tensile toughness, tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength of samples with 10phr [Mim]TBP increase by 419.7 %, 100.2 %, 71.7 % and 58.3 %, compared with pure EP, respectively. The increased toughness is due to the significant energy dissipation caused by the ionic bonds breaking between Mim and TBP. When the [Mim]TBP content exceeds 10 phr, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) can reach over 30 % and UL-94 test pass the V-0 rating. The peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), total smoke release (TSR) and peak CO production (PCOP) values effectively decrease by 31.5 %, 30.6 %, 48.3 % and 6.3 %, respectively, thanks to the gas and condensed phase mechanisms of the [Mim]TBP. A new strategy was provided for the development of toughness and fire safety performance epoxy thermosets for high-performance industrial applications.

Interfacial property optimization through the co-deployment of MOF-derived nickel phyllosilicate and DOPO: Effective reinforcement and flame retardancy of epoxy resin

Epoxy resin (EP) is a versatile material widely employed in diverse fields such as electronic encapsulation, coatings, and adhesives. The optimization of flame-retardant, mechanical and interfacial properties in composites through material modification and compounding represents a prominent research focus within the field of EP. This study presents a novel approach by synthesizing MOF-derived nickel phyllosilicate (K-NiPS) and compounding it with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) into the EP matrix. The incorporation of 5 wt% total K-NiPS and DOPO, with a mass ratio of 2:3, achieves a UL-94 V-0 rating and enhances the limiting oxygen index from 23.5 to 28.8%. This combination also reduced the peak heat release rate, peak smoke release rate, and total smoke release by 44.6%, 53.6%, and 37.8% respectively. Besides, the interface optimization effect of K-NiPS in collaboration with DOPO improved the tensile strength of EP/2K-NiPS/3DOPO from 77.5 MPa to 94.3 MPa, and the wear rate was only 1.25 × 10-5 mm3/(N·m), which is 82.2% lower than that of pure EP. This study will pave the way for the applied interface design of multi-functional EP.

Staggered distribution structure Cu-Mn catalysts for mitigating smoke and gas toxicity in combustion: Unravelling mechanistic insight through operando studies

The integration of flame retardancy and environmental friendliness can be achieved by designing cost-effective, stable, and efficient catalysts to reduce smoke and toxicity during the combustion of polymeric materials. This work reports the development of non-precious metal catalysts for thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), which exhibit a significant reduction in smoke and gases toxicity while providing flame retardancy. The use of MgB2 as a support enables the in-situ growth of highly efficient Cu-Mn based catalysts, resulting in a remarkable 51.5 % decrease in total smoke release and a 49.1 % reduction in peak rate of CO generation of TPU according to cone calorimeter test results. Furthermore, Cu-Mn/MgB2 demonstrates an impressive 83.1 % reduction in total CO production rate during the steady-state tube furnace test. Additionally, density functional theory is employed to analyze the binding energy between catalysts and TPU as well as the adsorption energy of gases. This elucidates the rational reaction mechanism behind the catalyst and smoke inhibiting process. By combining transition metal oxide catalyzed CO oxidation reaction with polymeric material combustion, this study presents a promising approach for efficient smoke suppression with potential applications.

Enhancing Flame Retardancy in Epoxy Resin with Clever Self-Assembly Method for Optimizing Interface Interaction via Well-Dispersed Cerium Oxide on Piperazine Pyrophosphate

Developing flame-retardant epoxy resins (EPs) is essential to broaden their industrial applications, as their inherent flammability restricts their widespread use. In this study, commercial cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles were modified with oleic acid and successfully assembled onto the surface of pyrophosphate piperazine (PAPP) through a simple solvophobic effect, constructing an integrated superstructure flame retardant, CeO2@PAPP, with enhanced performance integration. Compared to traditional simple blends, the EP composite with 10 wt% CeO2@PAPP displayed superior flame retardancy, thanks to the more subtle synergistic effects between flame retardant components and their favorable interface interactions. The EP composite achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating and increased the limiting oxygen index (LOI) to 34.2%. Significant reductions of 56.3% in peak heat release rate (PHRR) and 38.2% in total heat release (THR) were observed. Furthermore, total smoke release (TSR), carbon monoxide yield (COPR), and carbon dioxide yield (CO2PR) decreased by 52.2%, 50.2%, and 67.3%, respectively. Through comprehensive and detailed characterization, it was discovered that the assembled integrated CeO2@PAPP flame retardant can perform better in both the gas phase and condensed phase, resulting in superior flame-retardant properties. This study offers an effective strategy for developing highly flame-retardant EPs, thereby expanding their potential applications across various industries.

In-suit cemented strategy enables intumescent flame retardant transition from hyper-hydrophilic to hydrophobic and aggregation flame retardant effect simultaneously in polypropylene

To meet the stringent requirements of specific high-end manufacturing applications involving flame retardant polypropylene (PP) materials, it's imperative to overcome the inherent superhydrophilicity of intumescent flame retardants (IFR) while simultaneously further enhancing flame retardant efficiency. In addressing this challenge, novel in-situ cemented MVC-IFR microparticles characterized by a microparticle-aggregation effect and hydrophobic structure were successfully synthesized. The micro-aggregated MVC-IFR particles not only bolstered the hydrophobicity and charring flame retardancy of PP composites compared to conventional IFR but also exhibited superior resistance to water erosion. The water contact angle (WCA) of 3MVC-22IFR reached an impressive 159°, whereas the WCA of IFR stood at 0°. Moreover, when MVC-IFR and IFR were incorporated into PP, 3MVC-22IFR/PP displayed a WCA of 108° which was a hydrophobic composite, while 25IFR/PP exhibited a WCA of 81° which was a hydrophilic composite. Notably, the hydrophobic MVC-IFR showcased greater resistance to water exposure than hydrophilic IFR, thereby maintaining its flame retardant efficacy in practical applications. Furthermore, MVC-IFR microparticles with aggregation of acid, carbon, and gas sources, facilitated the charring reactions of different components, thereby enhancing its charring flame retardant effect in PP. Remarkably, 1MVC-24/PP not only attained a UL 94V-0 rating but also achieved a glow wire flammability index (GWFI) of >960 °C, a glow wire ignition temperature (GWIT) of 850 °C, and an LOI value of 28.7 %. In contrast, 25IFR/PP failed to secure a UL 94 rating and exhibited lower GWIT and LOI values. Crucially, the peak heat release rate and total smoke release of 1MVC-24IFR/PP were markedly reduced by 76 % and 41 %, respectively, compared with those of neat PP. In summary, this study presented a novel design concept and rules for flame retardant morphology, to find a way for the development of polyolefin materials boasting both high hydrophobicity and superior flame retardancy.

Effect of functionalized halloysite nanotubes on fire resistance and water tolerance of intumescent fire-retardant coatings for steel structures

To improve the comprehensive performance of intumescent fire-retardant coatings, the functionalized halloysite nanotubes (HNTs-D, HNTs@Fe3O4, and HNTs-D@Fe3O4) were synthesized as synergistic flame retardants and incorporated into intumescent fire-retardant coatings (IFRC) for steel structures, demonstrating significant flame retardant properties. Among these modified halloysite nanosheets, HNTs-D@Fe3O4 showed the best flame retardancy and water resistance. Adding the optimal addition amount (3 wt%) of HNTs-D@Fe3O4 can increase the residual weight of coating from 28.10 % to 38.40 % and reduce the backside temperature of the coated steel plate from 288 °C to 177 °C, indicating that HNTs-D@Fe3O4 can effectively improve the thermal stability and insulation performances of intumescent fire-retardant coatings. Cone calorimetric analysis showed HNTs-D@Fe3O4 can effectively suppress the heat and smoke release of the intumescent fire-retardant coatings. Compared with the unmodified coating sample, the total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSR) of the HNTs-D@Fe3O4-containing coating sample were reduced by 66.04 % and 11.36 %. HNTs-D@Fe3O4 facilitates the formation of dense char layers confirmed by the micro morphology characterization. Further mechanism analysis shows that HNTs-D@Fe3O4 has obvious catalytic carbonization effect and is helpful to construct the dense expanded char layer with higher graphitization degree. The uniformly dispersed HNTs-D@Fe3O4 improved the water resistance of intumescent fire-retardant coatings, which is mainly due to the hydrophobicity and barrier effect, thus effectively preventing the loss of water-soluble components.

Multifunctional aluminum 12-hydroxystearate/lignin polyurethane foam for selective gelation and efficient separation of oil and organic solvents

During frequent transportation, the marine environment is continuously exposed to significant threats from crude oil and organic solvent leakage. Non-covalent self-assembly of organogelator on the adsorbent matrix to fix non-polar solvents is an efficient and sustainable remediation method. This contribution proposes an organogelator-adsorbent composite by blending aluminum 12-hydroxystearate (Al HSA) and expanded graphite (EG) during lignin-based polyurethane foaming. Al HSA molecule synergizes with EG to modulate the shape (hexagonal), oil retention, mechanical property, and hydrophobicity (water contact angle = 151.3°) of the lignin-based polyurethane foam (LPUF) skeleton. Al HSA-LPUF (OTS-LPUF/EAH) superhydrophobic foam exhibits sorption capacity up to 13.2–53.0 g g−1 in various oils and organic solvents. From the microscopic morphology, the Al HSA on the skeleton self-assembles into spherical nanoclusters driven by hydrogen bonding, realizing the capturing of oils and organic solvents. Even after 20 cycles, the foam still has a high oil/water separation capacity and mechanical performance. OTS-LPUF/EAH also shows improved flame retardancy and a 61 % reduction in total smoke release (TSR) compared to pristine LPUF.

A novel strategy utilizing oxidation states of phosphorus for designing efficient phosphorus-containing flame retardants and its performance in epoxy resins

The oxidation state of phosphorus has a great influence on the flame retardant action of its flame retardants. In this study, a reactive phosphorus-containing flame retardant (POG-DOPO) with both low and high phosphorus oxidation states is synthesised and incorporated into epoxy resin. The results show that the part in high oxidation state act mainly in the condensed phase and the part in low oxidation state act mainly in the gas phase. Furthermore, the flame retardant exhibits a synergistic flame retardant effect, resulting in a higher flame retardant efficiency than that of flame retardants with a single phosphorus oxidation state. Compared with unmodified epoxy resin, the peak heat release rate, total heat release rate and total smoke release of POG-DOPO modified epoxy resin with only 3wt% phosphorus are reduced by 70.9%, 51.2% and 55.7%, respectively. Its LOI increases to 31.8% and vertical combustion test achieves UL-94 V-0 rating. This study provides a strategy for the structural design of efficient phosphorus-based flame retardants.

Enhancing flame retardancy in 3D printed polyamide composites using directionally arranged recycled carbon fiber

Combining recycled carbon fiber (rCF) and 3D printing technology has shown great potential for fabricating functional prototypes and production parts used in the aerospace and automotive industries. However, it is still a challenge to design flame-retardant 3D printed parts with high mechanical properties and flame-retardant rating. In the work, a flame-retardant polyamide (PA)-based composite for material extrusion 3D printing was prepared by utilization of rCF, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), and 9,10-Dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene (DOPO)-based flame retardant. The 3D-printed composites have high thermal stability, mechanical properties, and excellent flame retardancy with a V-0 rating. With the benefits of material extrusion 3D printing, directionally arranged rCF in 3D printed composites could effectively inhibit the fire spread, extend the time to ignition (TTI), reduce the total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSR) of 3D printed composites. The directional flame-retardant mechanism is mainly the thermal conductivity mechanism of the condensed phase and the promotion of stable ordered carbon layer formation. It provides a promising path for designing high-performance flame-retardant materials.

Engineering sulfonated carbon black for flame-retardant and smoke-suppressive polycarbonate with well-preserved mechanical performances

To cope with the practical demands of high-performance polycarbonate (PC) and explore the application of carbon black (CB) in flame retardant field, a sulfonated carbon black (CB-SS) was synthesized and applied to flame retardant PC in this work. Compared with PC/CB composite, PC/CB-SS composite displays better overall performances under the same flame retardant addition. The PC/3CB-SS composite with 3 wt.% of CB-SS achieves a vertical burning test (UL-94) V-0 rating with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 29.5%, and its peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total smoke release rate (TSR) are respectively reduced by 17% and 6% relative to those of PC/3CB with 3 wt.% of CB. The flame retardancy mechanism is proposed by analyzing the char residue obtained from cone calorimetry test, which confirms the synergistic flame-retardant effect between sodium sulfonate and CB in condensed phase. Moreover, PC/3CB-SS shows much better mechanical properties than PC/3CB, and its elongation at break is increased by 223% compared with that of PC/3CB. This is mainly due to the more even dispersion of CB-SS within PC and the stronger interfacial force between CB-SS and PC. This work provides an effective approach for the creation of fire-retardant and smoke-suppressive PC composites with well-preserved mechanical properties, contributing to expanding the industrial applications of PC.

Flame retardant polyurethane foam prepared from compatible blends of ammonium ligninsulfonate-based and zinc alginate

Abstract Zinc alginate (ZnAlg) was prepared and subsequently employed to modify ammonium ligninsulfonate-based polyurethane foams (PUFs). A range of analytical techniques, including thermogravimetry, integral programmed decomposition temperature, activation energy, smoke density, cone calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy, were employed to characterise the modified PUFs. The results demonstrated that the PUFA15Z5 (15 % ammonium lignin sulfonate and 5 g ZnAlg) with the lowest mass loss exhibited the second-highest sample decomposition temperature (T50 %), second-highest peak temperature (TMAX2), IPDT and activation energy. Furthermore, the PUFA15Z5 sample exhibited the smallest smoke density (23.11) and the highest light transmittance (67.11 %). The peak heat release rate, total heat release, smoke production rate, total smoke release and four fire risk assessment indicators of the PUFA15Z5 were the lowest, while its carbon residue was the densest. The results demonstrated that the PUFA15Z5 exhibited the most favourable thermal stability, flame retardant properties and the lowest smoke toxicity. These findings provided a valuable reference for subsequent biomass-based flame retardant modified polyurethane foams (PUFs).

MoS2@Fe3O4 prepared by γ-ray in situ reduction for enhancing the fire safety and mechanical properties of EVA/MCA composites

The high flammability of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) limits its important applications in fire safety, and the addition of highly effective flame retardants can improve this deficiency. Melamine cyanurate (MCA) has limited carbon-forming ability and therefore is often combined with other flame retardants to achieve synergistic flame retardant effects and thus improve the flame retardancy of EVA. Therefore, in this study, MoS2@Fe3O4 hybrid materials were synthesized by in-situ growth of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and ferric oxide (Fe3O4) and their structures were characterized using various techniques. The hybrids were blended with melamine cyanurate (MCA) into ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) by melt blending method to reduce the fire hazard. The EVA composites with 1.0 wt% MoS2@Fe3O4 blends significantly improved the coke residue and limiting oxygen index values to 22.5 % and 23.2 %, while their peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke release were reduced by 62.5 %, 11.7 %, and 35.3 %, respectively, as compared to pure EVA. The results suggest that the use of MoS2@Fe3O4 hybrids in combination with MCA is a promising strategy for the development of advanced flame-retardant materials.

In situ preparation of MoS2@Fe3O4 by radiation method and its application in flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and friction properties of EVA composites

In recent years, there has been significant interest in using two-dimensional MoS2 to enhance flame retardancy, which has proven challenging. MoS2@Fe3O4 nanosheets were successfully synthesized via a one-step method called radiation reduction to boost MoS2’s flame retardant properties. Incorporating these MoS2@Fe3O4 nanocomposites notably improved the flame retardancy of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA). Compared to pure EVA, EVA nanocomposites with 1 part of MoS2@Fe3O4 showed a 17.4% reduction in peak heat release rate, 40.4% decrease in total heat release, and 52.9% reduction in total smoke release, with scaly residue content improving from 0.4% to 12.6%. Additionally, MoS2@Fe3O4 incorporation enhanced the mechanical and friction properties of EVA composites, increasing tensile strength by 25.7% and elongation at break by 10.4% compared to pure EVA. This study presents an effective and simple method for producing modified MoS2 nanosheets that enhance flame retardancy, as well as mechanical and friction properties of EVA composites.

A new strategy for constructing ZIF-67@PBA core-shell 3D cross-heterostructures for improving fire safety of TPU at ultra-low addition amount

Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has an extensive application in many different industries. However, serious fire hazards and smoke toxicity have been the main reason limiting its wide application. Therefore, it is necessary and urgent to perform flame retardant and smoke suppression treatment for TPU. In recent years, metal-organic framework compounds (MOFs) have very promising application prospects in the fields of flame-retardant polymer composites. However, there is a problem of low flame-retardant efficiency for the original MOFs alone in polymer composites. It is reported the multi-level and multi-structured flame-retardant system has better flame-retardant efficiency than the traditional structures. So, the dual MOF core-shell heterostructure may have more effective heat reduction and smoke suppression than any single component. In this paper, a core-shell 3D cross-heterostructures nanohybrid (ZIF-67H@PBA) was prepared using ZIF-67H as the host MOF and Prussian blue nanocubes (PBA) as the guest MOF. It has been found that TPU/ZIF-67H@PBA composites with ultra-low additions have excellent fire safety. Compared with those of pure TPU, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total smoke release (TSP), and smoke factor (SF) of the samples with 0.5wt% ZIF-67H@PBA were reduced by 33.6 %, 47 %, and 61 %, respectively. At the same time, a cone calorimeter (CCT), a homemade soot sampling device and a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) coupling with each other were constructed and used to demonstrate the most realistic effects of flame retardants in terms of smoke suppression and toxicity reduction. This work provides a new strategy to design TPU flame retardants.

Integrated design of flame retardancy, smoke suppression and structure of carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin composites through intercalation of nanofiber membranes

A novel flame-retardant method based on the intercalation of nanofiber flame-retardant membrane has been studied for composite laminates. Compared to traditional additive flame-retardant method, this method is more efficient, does not affect the composite forming process, and can improve the mechanical properties of composite. Nanofiber flame-retardant membranes (FPm) are prepared from polyether sulfone (PES) and pentaerythritol phosphate ester (PEPA) by electrospinning technique and inserted in the interlayer of carbon fiber reinforced vinyl ester resin (CF/VER) composites. The FPm can improve the flame-retardancy and smoke suppression of the CF/VER composites by promoting the charring of interlayer structure and form a barrier layer. The thickness of the FPm and the flame-retardant performance of the composites are positive correlation. At a FPm’s thickness of 50 μm, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 ratings of the CF/VER composites reached 33.5 % and V-1, respectively. The total heat release (THR) and total smoke release (TSP) are reduced by 26.4 % and 30.4 %, respectively. Due to the interlayer enhancement effect of FPm, the mechanical strength and interlaminar fracture toughness of CF/VER composites are also improved. Especially, when the thickness of FPm is 30 μm, the mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (GIC) of the CF/VER composite increased by 17.4 %. while the flexural strength, interlayer shear strength (ILSS), mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (GIIC) and storage modulus (E’) are all enhanced.

Green flame-retardant rigid polyurethane foam with cobalt hydroxystannate to improve the thermal stability, flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties

The ecological benefits and concerns surrounding fossil fuels had led to increased interest in bio-based rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF). Nonetheless, due to its flammability, it had limited application in various fields. To solve this problem, a green bio-flame retardant, cobalt hydroxystannate (CoSn(OH)6), was prepared and compounded with montmorillonite (MMT) and chick feather protein (CF), and applied to RPUF, which not only realized the regeneration of resources, but also provided RPUF with better thermal stability, flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties. The experimental results showed that when 3 wt% CoSn(OH)6 was added, the RPUF (CF1/MMT3/Co3) had the greatest activation energy. In addition, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of CF1/MMT3/Co3 decreased by 12.73%, and 11.16% respectively, compared with no CoSn(OH)6. In addition, its Ds decreased by 28.9% and the light transmittance increased by 17.6% compared with the RPUF without CoSn(OH)6. At the same time, its peak smoke production rate (PSPR) and the total smoke release (TSR) decreased by 25% and 18%. And CF1/MMT3/Co3 also had the lowest fire risk evaluation index. This study presented possibilities for practical utilization of the RPUF substances founded on bio-based flame inhibitors.