Polydopamine-bridged synthesis of ternary h-BN@PDA@SnO2 as nanoenhancers for flame retardant and smoke suppression of epoxy composites

Author:  Cai, W., Guo, W. W., Pan, Y., Wang, J. L., Mu, X. W., Feng, X. M., Yuan, B. H., Wang, B. B., Hu, Y.

DOI:  10.1016/j.compositesa.2018.05.015

Keywords: Boron nitride, Metal oxide, Flame retardant, Smoke release, boron-nitride nanosheets, large-scale fabrication, in-situ synthesis, functionalized graphene, mechanical property, organic frameworks, thermal-stability, fire hazards, h-bn, hybrid

Abstract: 

The potential prospect of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) in the fields of polymer composites is severely limited by undesirable exfoliation efficiency and chemical inertness. Herein, bio-based dopamine was employed toward exfoliating bulk h-BN with hydrogen bond action and imparting a highly-active surface. With assistance of polypodamine, SnO2 nanoparticles were in-situ synthesized and strengthened the interfacial interaction between h-BN and epoxy (EP) matrix. The integrated function of metal oxide/h-BN toward flame retardant and smoke suppression of polymer materials was firstly studied and obtained, in term of reduced peak heat release rate (decreased by 41.1%), lower total heat release (decreased by 30.1%), and suppressed total smoke production (decreased by 21.6%). In addition, the mechanism for enhancements on flame retardant and smoke suppression of EP composites was systematically investigated. Such a design route simultaneously achieves the exfoliation and functionalization of h-BN, thus offering an active platform for further functionalization modification.