The preparation of layered double hydroxide wrapped carbon nanotubes and their application as a flame retardant for polypropylene.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) wrapped with layered double hydroxide (LDH-w-CNTs) were facilely obtained through in situ introduction of CNTs into the hydrothermal reaction system of LDH, with the goal of combining their unique physical and chemical characteristics to meet new advanced applications. Morphological observations indicated that LDH lamellae enwrapped the surface of CNTs and the wrapping degree was dependent on the functionalization of CNTs. Zeta-potential measurements showed that the interaction between the positive charge of LDH and the negative charge of CNTs was the main driving force of the wrapping process. Both hybrids led to a reduction in the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of polypropylene, indicating that they could confer better flame retardancy on polypropylene with respect to LDH and CNTs.

Effects of reactive compatibilization on the morphological, thermal, mechanical, and rheological properties of intumescent flame-retardant polypropylene.

Flame-retardant polypropylene (PP) samples were in situ compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted PP. Compatibilization reaction was verified by an IR spectrum and gel content measurements. Electron microscopy images showed that compatibilization could considerably reduce the size of the flame-retardant domains, control the phase morphology, and improve the interfacial adhesion between PP and intumescent flame retardant (IFR) with different IFR loading levels. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) of flame-retardant PP increased to different extents after compatibilization, indicating an improvement in the flame retardancy. Compatibilization enhanced the thermal stability to some extent and remarkably delayed thermal oxidative degradation of flame-retardant PP. For PP containing 20 wt % flame retardant, the temperature at which the maximum weight loss rate occurred was enhanced by about 99 degrees C after compatibilization. The storage modulus and glass transition temperatures were elevated to different extents. Tensile strengths of samples reduced in the presence of flame retardant alone but in the additional presence of compatibilizer were restored to levels similar to those of pure PP. Elongation-at-break values, however, showed IFR concentration-dependent reductions that were less for compatibilized samples. Furthermore, the complex viscosity of a compatibilized PP melt turned slightly smaller, which is favorable to melt processing.

Fabrication of fullerene-decorated carbon nanotubes and their application in flame-retarding polypropylene.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were decorated with fullerene (C(60)) via a three-step chemical functionalization, with the goal of combining their unique physical and chemical characteristics and simultaneously improving the solubility of CNTs in organic solvents. C(60) molecules, about 0.67% by molecule, were homogeneously bonded onto the surface of the CNTs. Electron microscopy clearly shows that C(60) molecules are introduced onto the surface of the CNTs, and this is also evidenced by their UV-VIS absorption spectra. Cone calorimetry measurements showed that compared with pristine CNTs, fullerene-decorated CNTs further reduced the flammability of polypropylene, which may be due to the free-radical-trapping effect of C(60) and the barrier effect of the CNT network.