CuO/Graphene Nanohybrids: Preparation and Enhancement on Thermal Stability and Smoke Suppression of Polypropylene

Abstract

Cu/graphene nanohybrids were successfully prepared using a simultaneous chemical reduction method. Successful oxidation of Cu nanoparticles was carried out by the melt blending during preparation of the nanocomposites. Cu nanoparticles were well dispersed on graphene with a diameter of 3–7 nm. XRD and TGA results revealed successful oxidation of Cu nanoparticles during processing. TEM results indicated that PP nanocomposites decorated with CuO/graphene were better dispersed than those added with graphene because the CuO acted as a spacer to keep graphene layers separated. The thermal property of the PP/G-Cu-1 and PP/G-Cu-2 was efficiently improved by around 30 °C compared with native PP. Moreover, the smoke suppression property of PP/graphene, PP/G-Cu-1, and PP/G-Cu-2 nanocomposites were also improved by 28.9%, 35.8%, and 47.2%, respectively. The main reasons for the improvements were due to two factors: the good mass barrier effect of graphene and being easily reduced or the catalytic charring effect of CuO. This work represents a novel and simple process to synthesize CuO/graphene nanohybrids to reduce the fire hazards of polypropylene, indicating further application in research and industrial areas.

Graphene-based flame retardants: a review

“…Metals or metal derivative-based nanomaterials include metal oxides, metal hydroxides and other metallic compounds, such as Co 3 O 4 [106], SnO 2 [107], Ce-MnO 2 [108], TiO 2 [109,110], CuO [111], NiO [106], [114], NiCe x O y [115], ZrO 2 [116], Ni(OH) 2 [116], MnCo 2 O 4 [38], FeOOH [117], AlOOH [118], NiAl-LDH [119] (LDH represents to layered double hydroxide), NiFe-LDH [120], Co(OH) 2 [121], ZnS [122], ZnCO 3 [123], MoS 2 [124], Al(H 2 PO 2 ) 3 [125], ferrocene (Fc) [126], zirconium organophosphate [127], nano-Sb 2 O 3 [128] and zinc hydroxystannate [129,130]. They can also be classified into zero-dimensional nanoparticles, onedimensional nanowires/nanorods/nanotubes and two-dimensional nanoplates/nanobelts.…”

Effect of Organo‐Modified Nanosepiolite on Fire Behaviors and Mechanical Performance of Polypropylene Composites

“…[1][2][3] However, PP is easily flammable, and flame retardancy becomes an essential requirement in order to expand its application. [1][2][3] However, PP is easily flammable, and flame retardancy becomes an essential requirement in order to expand its application.…”

The thermo-mechanical response of PP nanocomposites at high graphene loading

“…nanotubes, carbon black, graphene, metallised graphene, or metallic particles, which have been shown to increase the electrical conductivity, [12][13][14][15] but increasing the thermal conductivity has proven far more difficult, 8,16 especially when considerations of corrosion and thermal resistance were also imposed, which ruled out water-soluble polymers such as PEI, where high conductivity has been reported. 17 For example, Dittrich et al, Shi et al, and Chatterjee et al have demonstrated that it is possible to increase the thermal coefficient of PP nanocomposites with graphene, 18 metal/graphene combination, 19 or graphene and other carbon particle mixtures, 20 but at the concentrations reported only a value of K , 0.3 W m 21 K 21 was achieved. Electronic conductivity can be accomplished when the percolation threshold of the particle is reached and the conducting components are at least in point contact.…”