Flame Retardancy Of Hybrid Carbon Nanofiber Paper Based Polymer Nanocomposites

In this study, a hybrid nanopaper consisting of carbon nanofiber (CNF) and/or clay, polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane (POSS), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), has been fabricated through a papermaking process. The hybrid nanopaper was coated onto the surface of glass fiber (GF) reinforced polymer matrix composites through resin transfer molding (RTM) process. The morphologies of hybrid nanopapers with and without the polymer resin were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The polymer resin penetrated the entire nanopapers under a high-pressure compressed air system. The thermal decomposition behavior of hybrid nanopapers infused resin was studied with real-time thermogravimetric analysis/flourier transform infrared spectrometry (TGA/FTIR). The test results indicate that the addition of clay in the hybrid paper increased the char residues of the nanocomposites. The fire retardant performance of composite laminates coated with hybrid nanopaper was evaluated with cone calorimeter test using a radiated heat flux of 50 kW/m2. The cone test results indicated that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased dramatically in the CNF/clay/APP hybrid paper coated composite laminates. However, the extent of reduction of PHRR of the composite laminates coated with CNF/POSS/APP hybrid paper was lower compared with that of CNF/clay/APP hybrid paper. The formation of compact char materials was observed on the surface of the residues and analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The flame retardant mechanisms of hybrid nanopapers in composite laminates are discussed. © (2010) by BCC Research All rights reserved