A facile method for the preparation of novel fire-retardant layered double hydroxide and its application as nanofiller in UP

A novel functionalized layered double hydroxide (SPDP-LDH) has been prepared through hydrothermal method by co-precipitation method based on spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphorate disphosphoryl chlorine and Mg-Al-LDH (N-LDH). LDHs were homogenously mixed with unsaturated polyester resin (UP) to manufacture the final nanocomposites (LDH/UP). Various measurement methods have been employed to characterize the structure, morphology, thermal stability and combustible properties of intercalated LDH and its hybrid composites. These data revealed that the majority of N-LDH was intercalated by SPDP, and nano-sized particles of SPDP-LDH were achieved. SPDP-LDH had a better dispersion in UP compared with N-LDH. The TG data showed that the initial decomposition temperatures were delayed about 40 °C and 50 °C for 5wt % and 10wt %SPDP-LDH/UP nanocomposites respectively. The CC data presented that higher fire retardancy can also be obtained for SPDP-LDH/UP system based on the decreasing value of HRR and THR. Compared with N-LDH/UP system, the SPDP-LDH/UP nanocomposites presented an improvement in mechanical properties. In particular, a progressive increase 23.51% in flexural strength can be observed at 5 wt% loading of SPDP-LDH.