Synergistic flame retardancy and mechanical enhancement of epoxy resin via DOPO-derived flame retardant and 2D Zn/Co-ZIF nanosheets
摘要
The development of high-performance flame-retardant epoxy (EP) composites is critical for improving fire safety in practical applications. In this study, a DOPO-derived flame retardant (DD) was selected as a flame retardant to enhance the flame retardancy of EP. Considering the potential roles of metal centers in catalyzing char formation and oxidative reactions, a bimetallic Zn/Co-ZIF was innovatively synthesized in this study. Furthermore, its morphology was tuned to a two-dimensional (2D) sheet-like structure through a controlled synthesis strategy to better exert gas-phase barrier effects during combustion. The results revealed that EP/10DD/2D Zn/Co-ZIF composite achieved a 30.4 and 18.9% reduction in peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR), respectively, and attained a V-0 rating in the UL-94 test. Additionally, the average CO yield and total smoke production were markedly decreased, indicating improved smoke suppression. Additionally, 2D Zn/Co-ZIF enhanced the mechanical performance of EP composites, SEM and interfacial analysis revealed that 2D Zn/Co-ZIF promoted strong interactions with the EP matrix and DD, improving dispersion and compatibility. This work demonstrates a promising strategy for creating multifunctional flame retardants by combining phosphorus-based compounds with 2D metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), enhancing both flame retardancy and mechanical performance in EP composites.