No abstract

In order to improve the fire retardancy of epoxy resin (EP), lamellar cobalt potassium pyrophosphate (LCPP) nanocrystal whiskers with a length of 100–300 nm were designed and synthesized by a liquid technique. LCPP with high thermal stability was blended into EP to prepare the EP/LCPP composites. The results show that the EP/LCPP composites have higher thermal stability and produce more residues compared to pure EP. The combustion results display that the LOI value of the EP/10wt%LCPP composites was significantly improved to 35.9%, and the EP/6wt%LCPP composite can reach a UL-94 V-1 rating. Additionally, the peak heat release rate and peak smoke production rate of the EP/10wt%LCPP composites dramatically decreased by 43.8% and 48.5%, respectively. The improved flame retardancy and smoke suppression are mainly attributed to the inherent physical barrier of LCPP and the excellent catalytic carbonization ability of LCPP.

To improve the compatibility between flame retardant and epoxy resin (EP) matrix, amino phenyl copper phosphate-9, 10-dihydro-9-oxygen-10-phospha-phenanthrene-10-oxide (CuPPA-DOPO) is synthesized through surface grafting, which is blended with EP matrix to prepare EP/CuPPA-DOPO composites. The amorphous structure of CuPPA-DOPO is characterized by X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images indicate that the agglomeration of hybrids is improved, resisting the intense intermolecular attractions on account of the acting force between CuPPA and DOPO. The results of thermal analysis show that CuPPA-DOPO can promote the premature decomposition of EP and increase the residual amount of EP composites. It is worth mentioning that EP/6 wt% CuPPA-DOPO composites reach UL-94 V-1 level and limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 32.6%. Meanwhile, their peak heat release rate (PHRR), peak smoke production release (PSPR) and CO2 production (CO2P) are decreased by 52.5%, 26.1% and 41.4%, respectively, compared with those of EP. The inhibition effect of CuPPA-DOPO on the combustion of EP may be due to the release of phosphorus and ammonia free radicals, as well as the catalytic charring ability of metal oxides and phosphorus phases.

Two‐dimensional layered ammonium vanadium oxalate‐phosphates (AVOPh) with the structural formula of (NH4)2[VO(HPO4)]2(C2O4)·5H2O are synthesized though a hydro‐thermal method, which is dispersed into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix to prepare PVA/AVOPh composites. The results of thermal analysis indicate that AVOPh and PVA have similar decomposition temperature from 280 to 500°C, which is critical for choosing flame retardant. The incorporation of AVOPh significantly improves the thermal stability and flame retardancy of PVA/AVOPh composites that the T5% value of PVA/2 wt% AVOPh composites is up to 215°C, and the residue of PVA/8 wt% AVOPh composites is enhanced to 16.9%, while those of pure PVA are only 178°C and 2.4%. PVA/4 wt% AVOPh composites can pass V‐0 level, and its limiting oxygen index value is up to 32.0%. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of PVA/AVOPh composites are obviously decreased, which reduced by 43.4% and 43.8% with the addition of 4 wt% AVOPh, compared with those of pure PVA. The excellent thermal stability and flame retardancy are mainly attributed to the uniform dispersion and barrier effect of 2D layered AVOPh, the release of crystal water, ammonia and phosphorus free radicals and the two‐phase flame retardant catalytic mechanism of vanadium and phosphorus.