Synergistic flame retardancy effect of graphene nanosheets and traditional retardants on epoxy resin

Novel non-toxic halogen-free flame retardants are replacing traditional flame retardants in polymer and polymer matrix composite structures. In this study, graphene nanosheet (GNS) is investigated in combination with traditional layered double hydroxide (LDH), layered rare-earth hydroxide (LRH), and phosphorus-based flame retardant (DOPO) to enhance the flame retardancy of epoxy resin. A synergistic flame retardancy effect is achieved in GNS/LDH and GNS/DOPO systems where combined GNS and LDH increased the viscosity of the epoxy melt, and limited the flame propagation through inhibition of dripping. The limiting oxygen index of epoxy increased from 15.9 to 23.6 with addition of 0.5 wt.% each of GNS and LDH. With the addition of 2.5 wt.% of both GNS and LDH, the total heat release of epoxy resin also reduced from 33.4 MJ/m2 to 24.6 MJ/m2. The synergistic effect of GNS and DOPO adopted a different mechanism. The addition of 2.5 wt.% of GNS and DOPO reduced the peak heat release rate from 1194 kW/m2 to 396 kW/m2, and the total heat release rate from 72.5 MJ/m2 to 48.1 MJ/m2. The synergistic mechanisms of the flame retardants were closely analyzed and correlated with the flame retardant properties.