Amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes/polyphosphazene hybrids for improving the fire safety and mechanical properties of epoxy

• Published in: Progress in natural science Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 179 - 189
• Main Authors: Zhou, Mutian, Zeng, Desen, Qiu, Shuilai, Zhou, Xia, Cheng, Liang, Xu, Zhoumei, Xing, Weiyi, Hu, Yuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2022; State Key Laboratory of Fire Science,University of Science and Technology of China,96 Jinzhai Road,Hefei,Anhui,230026,China%Innovation Center,Midea Residential Air Conditioner Division,Midea Group,China
• ISSN: 1002-0071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2022.01.005

To expand further modern industrial applications of epoxy resin (EP), the urgent problems of flammability and poor mechanical properties have to be solved. Therefore, amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (AFP@CNTs) was designed and successfully synthesized to enhance the comprehensive properties, including fire safety and mechanical properties. Especially, the flame retardant mechanism, the combustion and pyrolysis process of EP/AFP@CNTs were investigated as well. With the addition of 1.5 ​wt% AFP@CNTs, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) of EP were reduced by 27.6% and 29.0%, respectively, which may due to the cooperative effect between the phosphorus-nitrogen synergistic flame retardant of polyphosphazene and the cohesive phase flame retardant of carbon nanotubes. In addition, the mechanical performance of EP/AFP@CNTs composites were also investigated. The results showed that the impact strength, tensile strength and the storage modulus effectively increased by 65.0%, 29.0% and 13.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the change of the combustion and pyrolysis process of EP/AFP@CNTs may be attributed to the catalytic effect of the amino-functionalized polyphosphazene, which could participate in the formation of epoxy thermal curing crosslinking network and catalyze the degradation process of epoxy resin. [Display omitted] •Innovation: novel AFP@CNTs to promote flame retardant and toughness of EP.•High-efficiency: PHRR and THR of EP/AFP@CNTs1.5 reduced by 27.6% and 29.0%.•Mechanical properties: The impact strength, tensile strength and the storage modulus effectively increased.•The flame retardant mechanism and the combustion and pyrolysis process of EP/AFP@CNTs were investigated.