Metal-Organic Frameworks Meet Two-Dimensional Materials in Polymer Matrices for Flame Retardant and Sensor Applications.

Functional polymer composites offer versatility and high performance through material fusion, but flammability is an obstacle to application. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted attention in the field of flame retardant due to their structural diversity and high specific surface area, but they suffer from low efficiency and agglomeration issues when used alone. Combining with two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials can improve the above situation.

Effect of Multiple Phosphorus-Nitrogen Flame Retardant on the Properties of PA66.

PA66 is a widely used engineering plastic, but its flammability reduces safety during application. The 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene 10-oxide (DOPO) and its derivatives are a class of flame retardants with excellent flame-retardant efficiency, which can significantly improve the flame retardancy of PA66. This work synthesized a DOPO derivative flame retardant, DT, containing multiple P/N elements and comprehensively characterized its structure using FTIR and NMR.

Biomimetic sand-fixation-inspired flame retardants: enhanced char stabilization and multifunctional polyurethane with integrated fire safety, radiation shielding, and visual monitoring.

Multifunctional polyurethane (PU) holds significant promise as a next-generation smart material, yet its inherent flammability limits widespread application. Currently, research on condensed-phase flame retardancy primarily focuses on promoting char layer formation, while the critical affecting factor of char layer structural stability is often overlooked. In this study, inspired by the sand-fixation mechanism, a cluster-structured flame retardant was designed using rare earth metals as the central core and phosphoric acids as functional end groups to construct a root-like framework.

Preparation of Montmorillonite-Melamine Cyanurate and Inhibition of the Emission of Phosphine from PA6/Aluminum Hypophosphate.

In order to mitigate the release of toxic phosphine from aluminum hypophosphite in twin-screw processing, montmorillonite-melamine cyanurate was prepared by three methods: (1) mechanical intercalation, (2) water intercalation and (3) in situ intercalation. The sheet spacing of montmorillonite was increased from 1.140 nm to 1.

Ultrarobust, Self-Healing Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomer with Superior Tensile Strength and Intrinsic Flame Retardancy Enabled by Coordination Cross-Linking.

Poly(urethane-urea) elastomers (PUUEs) have gained significant attention recently due to their growing demand in electronic skin, wearable electronic devices, and aerospace applications. The practical implementation of these elastomers necessitates many exceptional properties to ensure robust and safe utilization. However, achieving an optimal balance between high mechanical strength, good self-healing at moderate temperatures, and efficient flame retardancy for poly(urethane-urea) elastomers remains a formidable challenge.

Joint Exfoliation of MXene by Dimensional Mismatched SiC/ZIF-67 Toward Multifunctional Flame Retardant Thermoplastic Polyurethane.

The single-layer MXene fully demonstrates the advantages of 2D materials, especially catalytic, conductive, and mechanical properties. However, the high energy consumption and low efficiency faced by MXene in the divestiture process are still challenges that need to be solved urgently. In this article, dimension mismatch and collaborative stripping strategies are skillfully combined to easily realize the transformation from multi-layer MXene to single layer.

Synthesis of Sulfonated Phenylsilsesquioxanes Guided by Machine Learning.

Sulfonated octaphenylsilsesquioxane (SPOSS) has garnered significant interest due to its unique structural properties of containing the -SOH group and its wide range of applications. This study introduces a novel approach to the synthesis of SPOSS, leveraging machine learning algorithms to explore new recipes and achieve higher -SOH functionality. The focus was on synthesizing SPOSS with 2, 4, 6, and 8-SOH functional groups on the phenyl group, marked as SPOSS-2, SPOSS-4, SPOSS-6, and SPOSS-8, respectively.

Structure of Metal-Organic Frameworks Eco-Modulated by Acid-Base Balance toward Biobased Flame Retardant in Polyurea Composites.

Biobased-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (Bio-FUN-MOFs) stand out from the crowd of candidates in the flame-retardant field due to their multipathway flame-retardant mechanisms and green synthesis processes. However, exploring and designing Bio-FUN-MOFs tend to counteract the problem of compromising the flame-retardant advantages of MOFs themselves, which inevitably results in a waste of resources. Herein, a strategy in which MOFs are ecologically regulated through acid-base balance is presented for controllable preparation of Bio-FUN-MOFs by two birds with one stone, i.

Silicon Hybrid EPDM Composite with High Thermal Protection Performance.

The effects of octaphenylsilsesquioxane (OPS), fumed silica, and silica aerogel on the thermal insulation properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber were studied. On this basis, two kinds of fillers with good performances were selected to study the thermal insulation of an EPDM full-formula system. The results show that the addition of fumed silica or silica aerogel had a positive effect on the thermal insulation performance of EPDM rubber and its composite.

A Gas-Steamed Route to Mesoporous Open Metal-Organic Framework Cages Enhancing Flame Retardancy and Smoke Suppression of Polyurea.

Up to now, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with open nanostructures have shown outstanding capabilities in trapping smoke particles compared to the original MOFs. However, only a few MOF-based strategies have been reported to synthesize hierarchical porous cages thus far, which are mainly restricted to environmentally unfriendly wet-chemical liquid methods. Herein, as a proof-of-concept, a gas-steamed metal-organic framework approach was designed to fabricate a series of cheeselike open cages with hierarchical porosity.

Hollow Superstructure In Situ Assembled by Single-Layer Janus Nanospheres toward Electromagnetic Shielding Flame-Retardant Polyurea Composites.

A dodecahedral superstructure consisting of a single layer of Janus spheres containing ZIF-67 nanodots is prepared by in situ polymerization, with ZIF-67 and bio-based phytic acid (PA) as templates and dopants. It is used to improve the flame retardant, electromagnetic (EMI) shielding, and thermal conductivity properties of polyurea (PUA). By adding 5 wt% polyaniline@cobalt phytate-2.

Strategy for Constructing Phosphorus-Based Flame-Retarded Polyurethane Elastomers for Advanced Performance in Long-Term.

Polyurethane elastomer (PUE), which is widely used in coatings for construction, transportation, electronics, aerospace, and other fields, has excellent physical properties. However, polyurethane elastomers are flammable, which limits their daily use, so the flame retardancy of polyurethane elastomers is very important. Reactive flame retardants have the advantages of little influence on the physical properties of polymers and low tendency to migrate out.

Metal-organic framework-derived bird's nest-like capsules for phosphorous small molecules towards flame retardant polyurea composites.

The loading treatment of phosphorus flame retardants can mitigate their migration and plasticization effect. However, designing suitable carriers has remained a great challenge. Herein, two kinds of Co-based isomers, namely cobalt-cobalt layered double hydroxides (CoCo-LDH) and cobalt basic carbonate (CBC), were synthesized by employing ZIF-67 as a self-template, assemblied into two different nanostructures namely multi-yolk@shell CBC@CoCo-LDH (m-CBC@LDH) and solid CBC nanoparticles by facilely tuning the reaction time, which were employed as carriers, respectively.

Study on Mechanical Properties of Polyurethane Cross-Linked P(E-co-T)/PEG Blended Polyether Elastomer.

To improve the mechanical properties of polyurethane cross-linked poly (ethylene oxide-co-tetrahydrofuran) (P(E-co-T)) elastomers at room temperature, using poly (ethylene oxide-co-tetrahydrofuran) and high-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol (PEG) as raw materials and polyisocyanate N100 as curing agent, a series of polyurethane cross-linked blended polyether elastomers were prepared by changing the elastomer-curing parameter R value (n(-NCO)/n(-OH)) and P(E-co-T)/PEG ratio. Equilibrium swelling measurements showed that the chemical cross-linkage of the elastomers tended to decrease with the decreasing R value, the average molecular weight (Mc) of the network chain increased, and the density of the network chain (N0) decreased. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests showed that PEG chain segments within the elastomers crystallized at room temperature, while the crystallinity increased with decreasing R value and increasing PEG content.

Preparation and Characterization of TCPP-CaMMT Nanocompound and Its Composite with Polypropylene.

Based on the molecular dynamics method, the tris-(1-chloropropan-2yl) phosphate (TCPP)/montmorillonite (MMT) molecular model was established to study the binding energy and microstructure changes in TCPP and MMT. The theoretical simulation results showed that TCPP can enter the MMT layer and increase the layer spacing. From this, an organic intercalated Ca-montmorillonite TCPP-CaMMT was prepared by a very simple direct mixing method using flame retardant TCPP as a modifier.

Preparation of Intercalated Organic Montmorillonite DOPO-MMT by Melting Method and Its Effect on Flame Retardancy to Epoxy Resin.

An intercalated organic montmorillonite DOPO-MMT was prepared through the melting method using 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) as a modifier. Epoxy resin (EP) composites were prepared with DOPO-MMT, DOPO, MMT, and the physical mixtures of DOPO+MMT as flame retardants. The microstructure of the flame retardants and EP samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Fabrication of Enhanced Mechanical Properties and Intrinsic Flame-Retardant Polyurethane Elastomer Containing 4-(Phenylethynyl) Di(Ethylene Glycol) Phthalate.

In this study, the aromatic acetylene compound 4-(phenylethynyl) di(ethylene glycol) phthalate (PEPE) was used as a chain extender, partially replacing 1,4-butanediol. To synthesize an intrinsic flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) with an aromatic acetylene structure, PEPE was synthesized by a two-step polymerization. The flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of TPU were studied.

Curing Behaviors of Alkynyl-Terminated Copolyether with Glycidyl Azide Polymer in Energetic Plasticizers.

Alkynyl-terminated polyethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran (ATPET) and glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) could be linked through click-chemistry between the alkynyl and azide, and the product may serve a binder for solid propellants. The effects of the energetic plasticizers A3 [1:1 mixture of bis-(2,2-dinitropropy) acetal (BDNPA) and bis-(2,2-dinitropropyl) formal(BDNPN)] and Bu-NENA [N-butyl-N-(2nitroxyethyl) nitramine] on the curing reaction between ATPET and GAP have been studied. A diffusion-ordered nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DOSY-NMR) approach has been used to monitor the change in the diffusion coefficient of cross-linked polytriazole polyethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran (PTPET).

The Effect of Glycidyl Azide Polymer Grafted Tetrafunctional Isocyanate on Polytriazole Polyethylene Oxide-Tetrahydrofuran Elastomer and its Propellant Properties.

A new energetic curing reagent, Glycidyl azide polymer grafted tetrafunctional isocyanate (N100--GAP) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR and GPC approaches. Polytriazole polyethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran (PTPET) elastomer was prepared by N100--GAP and alkynyl terminated polyethylene oxide-tetrahydrofuran (ATPET). The resulting PTPET elastomer was fully characterized by TGA, DMA, FTIR and mechanical test.