Bio-waste derived,phosphorus decorated composite for highly efficient flame retardant for cotton fabric

In this, an efficient flame retardant composite has been prepared using biowaste derived phosphorous groups decorated graphene supported nanomaterial. The eggshell was utilized as a source of calcium carbonate, which was converted to monocalcium phosphate (CP) by phosphoric acid treatment. As-prepared monocalcium phosphate was functionalized with graphene to prepare graphene functionalized monocalcium phosphate (GCP). The GCP-coated fabric didn't ignite during the flame test and sustained more than 600 s on continuous exposure to flame without changing its initial length and shape. Whereas, graphene oxide (GO), and CP coated cotton fabric burnt out very easily within a short time. The efficient flame retardant property of as synthesized GCP coated cotton fabric was confirmed with a high limiting oxygen index (34.1) and char length of 2.5 cm was generated from the VFT test. The synthesized GCP coated cotton fabric also confirmed efficient flame retardant properties. This facile method enables an easy process for mass production of cost-effective, bio-waste derived nanomaterial for a significantly highly efficient candidate for different applications in sustainable chemistry, including flame-retardant applications.

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Sustainable and efficient flame retardant materials for achieving high fire safety for polystyrene composites

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Novel porous carbon sheets were developed as green, renewable, cost-effective, and efficient flame retardant material for thermoplastic polymers....     

Durable phosphorus/nitrogen flame retardant for cotton fabric

Cellulose - A new phosphorus/nitrogen flame retardant (FR) containing reactive –P–O−NH4+ groups was synthesized from glycerol, phosphoric acid, and urea. At high temperatures, the...     

Electrolyte additives for improved lithium-ion battery performance and overcharge protection

Much effort is being expended on the development of smart, safe, high-power lithium-ion batteries that are also environmentally friendly. Scaled-up lithium-ion batteries still raise safety concerns, especially when they are overcharged. Therefore, efforts continue to improve the thermal and chemical stability of positive electrodes, negative electrodes, separators, and electrolytes within the battery to counter thermal runaway. This opinion discusses highlights of research on additives for nonaqueous electrolytes published during 2018 and 2019.     

A novel efficient halogen-free flame retardant system for polycarbonate

A novel silicon- and phosphorus-containing flame retardant, poly (9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide siloxane), P(DOPO-VTES) was synthesized from 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide(DOPO) and vinyltriethoxy silane(VTES). Its chemical structure was confirmed by FTIR. The thermal gravimetrical analysis (TGA) showed that P(DOPO-VTES) had good thermal stability and a high of char yield (86.31%) at 700 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. Its XRD patterns showed that this compound had a certain ordered structure. P(DOPO-VTES) was blended with polycarbonate (PC) together with montmorillonite(MMT) to prepare a series of organic-inorganic hybrids of flame retardant (PC)/P(DOPO-VTES)/MMT via melt blending. The thermal degradation behavior and flame retardancy of those hybrids were investigated with TGA, limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94), and cone calorimeter. The LOI value of the flame-retardant PC systems could reach a maximal value of 32.8 when the content of P(DOPO-VTES) was 5 wt%. When 2 wt% MMT was added into the PC/5%P(DOPO-VTES) system, the UL-94 rating reached V-0. The possible flame retardant mode of MMT was studied via the dynamic rheological properties of the systems and the morphology of the chars remaining after the LOI test and the cone calorimeter test.     

Seeking direct cathode regeneration for more efficient lithium-ion battery recycling

As lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continue to expand their applications, an effective and economic end-of-life strategy urgently demanded the development of closed-loop manufacturing and the improvement of resource sustainability in the LIB industry. Compared with conventional hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling methods, the direct recycling process is capable of rejuvenating both spent electrodes while avoiding intensive energy and chemical usages, which significantly reduces the cost and secondary wastes. This short review analyzes the recent progress in direct recycling of LIB cathodes with some highlights in the challenges and limitations of materials properties and resource sustainability. It also presents an outlook on the next-generation recycling of spent LIBs with higher environmental benefits and economic returns.     

Red phosphorus as a flame retardant for a thermoplastic nitrogen-containing polymer

Studies were made of the flame-retardant and smoke-suppressant activity of red phosphorus, in the presence of a brominated (decabromobiphenyl) and/or a nitrogenated (melamine) compound, on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer. These studies were complemented by simultaneous thermal analyses of the polymeric systems. Red phosphorus is oxidised on heating and the thermal decomposition of any system containing this additive includes a substantial weight gain stage at ca 700 K. Melamine is volatilised very early on and thereafter acts only as a smoke suppressant in the gas phase. Decabromobiphenyl and red phosphorus interact positively in decreasing the flammability of the substrate, particularly at atomic ratios not lower than stoichiometric. The acrylonitrile content in ABS is very important, suggesting that the additives act mainly in the gas phase but that they also form some sort of charry layer on the polymer surface.     

Studies of degradation enhancement of polystyrene by flame retardant additives

Experimental methods as well as thermodynamic modeling techniques were utilized to explore potential gas and condensed-phase contributions of various flame retardant (FR) additives with polystyrene polymer. FR additives investigated include hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), triphenyl phosphine sulfide (TPPS), and sulfur. Flame studies of fundamental FR activity were also employed using molecular beam mass spectrometry analysis of FR active species directly in a flame system. The flame studies show direct evidence for active bromine (HBr, Br) species for HBCD and active phosphorous species (HPO₂, PO, PO₂ HPO₃) species for TPPO and TPP which provide high potential for gas-phase activity for these FR additives. Various experimental measurements were also done to assess the degradation species and the degree of degradation of polystyrene by the FR additives. These studies support enhanced degradation of the base polystyrene polymer by the FR additive as a major pathway for condensed FR activity for HBCD and sulfur FR additives. Phosphorous based structures appear to show little enhancement of polystyrene degradation.     

Flame retardant properties and mechanism of an efficient intumescent flame retardant PLA composites

The charring agent (CNCA‐DA) containing triazine and benzene rings was combined with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) to form intumescent flame retardant (IFR), and it was occupied to modify polylactide (PLA). The flame retardant properties and mechanism of flame retardant PLA composites were investigated by the limited oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL‐94), thermogravimetric analysis, microscale combustion calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analysis from LOI and UL‐94 presented that the IFR was very effective in flame retardancy of PLA. When the weight ratio of APP to CNCA‐DA was 3:1, and the IFR loading was 30%, the IFR showed the best effect, and the LOI value reached 45.6%. It was found that when 20 wt% IFR was loaded, the flame retardancy of PLA/IFR still passed UL‐94 V‐0 rating, and its LOI value reached 32.8%. The microscale combustion calorimetry results showed that PLA/IFR had lower heat release rate, total heat release, and heat release capacity than other composites, and there was an obvious synergistic effect between APP and CNCA‐DA for PLA. IFR containing APP/CNCA‐DA had good thermal stability and char‐forming ability with the char residue 29.3% at 800°C under N₂ atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy observation further indicated that IFR could promote forming continuous and compact intumescent char layer. The laser Raman spectroscopy analysis and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis results indicated that an appropriate graphitization degree of the residue char was formed, and more O and N were remained to form more cross‐linking structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fire behavior of flame retarded unsaturated polyester resin with high nitrogen content additives

The novel flame retarded unsaturated polyester resins have been developed and prepared by introduction of high nitrogen content additives into the polymer matrix in order to verify their effectiveness in the formation of swollen carbonaceous char inhibiting the burning process of the polymer. The intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) based on mixture or metal complex were developed and characterized by particle size distribution, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis (CHN) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The evaluation of the efficiency of IFRs addition on the flammability and smoke emission of the unsaturated polyester resins (UP) was carried out using the fire hazard (UL-94), limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimeter (CC) tests, as well as smoke density chamber tests. The volatile compounds evolved during the burning of materials were determined using a steady state tube furnace and a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer. Furthermore, the prepared materials were subjected to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis and water resistance tests. The mechanical properties of the materials were investigated using Shore D hardness and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA). The structural evaluation of the manufactured materials and samples after the cone calorimetry tests was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the incorporation of new intumescent flame retardants led to the formation of carbonaceous char layers’ inhibiting the decomposition process and limiting the smoke emission. The most promising results were obtained for the resin containing complex designated as ZN3AT, for which the highest reduction in maximum values of heat release rate (419 kW/m²) compared to unmodified polymer (792 kW/m²) were recorded. Apart from that, the prepared intumescent flame retardants affect the cross-linking process as well as the thermal and mechanical properties of the UP.     

Development of additives possessing both solid-phase and gas-phase flame retardant activities

Effective additives are required to impart a measure of fire retardancy to polymeric materials used in a variety of applications. Traditionally, these have been gas-phase active additives, most commonly organohalogen compounds or solid-phase active agents, often organophosphorus compounds. Organosphosphorus flame retardants are often very effective but may suffer from a cost disadvantage when compared with their organobromine counterparts. Organohalogen flame retardants are usually quite effective but their use is a subject to several environmental concerns. The development of additives that could simultaneously promote both types of fire retardant action could make available flame retardants that are both more cost effective and more environmentally friendly than those currently in use. Several sets of compounds with the potential to display both solid-phase and gas-phase flame retardant activities have been prepared and evaluated.     

Mechanism of flame retardant action of red phosphorus in polyacrylonitrile

The mechanism of flame retardant (FR) action of red phosphorus in polyacrylonitrile combustion was investigated by thermogravimetry, flash-pyrolysis GC-MS, and combustion methods. Red phosphorus was found to increase the thermal stability in air of polyacrylonitrile and to induce a char residue increment on this substrate. Both these effects disappeared when pyrolysis was carried out under nitrogen flow. Flash-pyrolysis GC-MS experiments showed that red phosphorus does not alter the pyrolysis product distribution of polyacrylonitrile, which implies that there is no specific interaction between polyacrylonitrile and red phosphorus. These data also showed that polymeric red phosphorus decomposes to volatile white phosphorus (P₄) during pyrolysis. These observations allow us to propose a simple model for the mechanism of FR action of red phosphorus on polyacry-lonitrile at the molecular level. Combustion data for polyacrylonitrile-red phosphorus mixtures are in agreement with the proposed mechanism of FR action.     

An efficient halogen-free flame retardant for glass-fibre-reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate)

Compared with poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), glass-fibre-reinforced poly(butylene terephthalate) (GF-PBT) is difficult to flame retard with halogen-free flame retardants. In the present study, the aluminium salt of hypophosphorous acid (AP) was used as a flame retardant for GF-PBT. A series of flame-retardant GF-PBT composites was prepared via melt compounding. The flame retardance and combustion behaviour of the composites were studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94) and cone calorimetric test. Thermal behaviours and thermal decomposition kinetics were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under N₂ atmosphere. The addition of AP to the composites could result in an increased LOI value, a UL-94 V-0 (1.6 mm) classification and a better fire performance in cone calorimetric tests. The char morphology observation after flame-retardant tests, calculation of decomposition kinetics, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infra-red spectral analysis of the char residue confirmed the condensed-phase flame-retardant mechanism. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the flame-retardant composites were not deteriorated, retaining an acceptable level.     

A novel intumescent flame retardant imparts high flame retardancy to epoxy resin

Intumescent flame retardant (IFR) has received the considerable attention ascribed to the inherent advantages including non‐halogen, low toxicity, low smoke release and environmentally friendly. In this work, a novel charring agent poly (piperazine phenylaminophosphamide) named as PPTA was successfully synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Then, a series of flame‐retardant EP samples were prepared by blending with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and PPTA. Combustion tests include oxygen Index (LOI), vertical Burning Test (UL‐94) and cone calorimeter testing,these test results showed that PPTA greatly enhances the flame retardancy of EP/APP. According to detailed results, EP containing 10 wt% APP had a LOI value of 30.2%,but had no enhancement on UL‐94 rating. However, after both 7.5 wt% APP and 2.5 wt% PPTA were added, EP‐7 passed UL‐94 V‐0 rating with a LOI value of 33.0%. Moreover, the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and peak of smoke product rate (PSPR) of EP‐7 were greatly decreased. Meanwhile, the flame‐retardant mechanism of EP‐7 was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG‐IR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The corresponding results presented PPTA significantly increased the density of char layer, resulting in the good flame retardancy.     

Novel bio-inspired deep eutectic solvent and graphene functionalized deep eutectic solvent as an efficient flame retardant material for cotton fabric

Cellulose - In this study, a novel bioinspired deep eutectic solvent (DES) was synthesized and functionalized with graphene to prepare G-DES. DES was synthesized in the presence of choline chloride...     

A novel flame retardant containing phosphorus,nitrogen, and sulfur

In this article, a novel intumescent flame retardant (IFR) PNSFR containing three flame-retardant elements, phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur was designed and synthesized. Then a series of flame-retardant thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) were prepared using the PNSFR. The effects of the flame retardant on the flammability of TPU/PNSFR composites were investigated by limited oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 vertical burning. The results showed that TPU containing 10 mass% PNSFR had the highest LOI value (36) and could reach the V-0 rating. The flame-retardant mechanism of PNSFR in TPU was also disclosed using thermogravimetric analysis (TG), scanning electron micrograph, TG-infared spectrometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The sulfur and phosphorus elements of PNSFR can be kept in residual char. Moreover, an optimal loading amount of the IFR in TPU is in favor of forming dense and continuous char layer to prevent heat transfer and the spread of flammable gases. The IFR PNSFR may find potential use for various flame-retardant polyurethanes.     

LixV2O5 nanobelts for high capacity lithium-ion battery cathodes

5–10 μm long, typically 200–300 nm wide, and several nanometers thick Li_xV₂O₅ (× ～ 0.8) nanobelts with the δ-type crystal structure were synthesized by a hydrothermal treatment of Li⁺-exchanged V₂O₅ gel. When dried at 200 °C under vacuum prior to electrochemical testing, the as-prepared nanobelts underwent the well-known δ → ε → γ-phase transition giving a mixture of ε and γ phases as a nanocomposite electrode material. Such a simple preparation procedure guarantees a yield of material with drastically enhanced initial discharge specific capacity of 490 mAh/g and great cyclability. The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to the complex of experimental procedures including post-synthesis treatment of the single-crystalline Li_xV₂O₅ nanobelts.     

Improved flame retardant properties of epoxy resin by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives

Flame retardant additives of montmorillonite (MMT) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were embedded in epoxy resin to improve the resin's flame retardant properties. MMT was fluorinated to exfoliate its layers and enhance its dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT was also fluorinated to create hydrophobic functional groups for improved dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT reduced the degradation rate of the epoxy resin and increased the char yield. Limiting oxygen index also increased showing first order against char yield. The exfoliated MMT acted as an energy storage medium to hinder thermal transfer within the epoxy resin. The activation energy increased almost two times by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives. The fluorination of the additives, MMT and MWCNT significantly improved the flame retardant properties of the epoxy resin.     

A flame retardant separator modified by MOFs-derived hybrid for safe and efficient Li-S batteries

In this work,we have successfully prepared a novel separator modified with N,S co-doped carbon framework(named NSPCF)with confined CoS₂ nanoparticles and rooted carbon nanotubes material(named NSPCF@CoS₂)to apply for high-performance Lithium-Sulfur batteries(Li-S batteries).Robust carbon structure with large specific surface can act as a physical barrier and possess physical adsorption effect on lithium polysulfides(LiPSs).In addition,highly-conductive carbon can improve integral conductivity,leading to the fast charge transport and reaction kinetics.Also,doping heteroatoms could form more active sites to adsorb LiPSs strongly so that modified separator could inhibit the shuttle effect effectively.Moreover,the presence of CoS₂ further enhances the ability of modified separator to trap LiPSs owing to the Lewis acid-base action.As a result,the NSPCF@CoS₂@C-150 battery can deliver initial discharge capacities of 863.0,776.2,649.1 and 489.4 mAh g^-1 at 0.1,0.5,1 and 2C with a high sulfur loading of 2.04 mg cm^-2,respectively.Notably,when turning the current density back to 0.1 C,its discharge capacity can recover to 1008.7 mAh g^-1.In addition,the modified separators exhibit outstanding capacities to restrain the growth of lithium dendrites.It is noteworthy that the flame retardant performances of Li-S batteries are improved dramatically owing to the novel structures of modified separators.This rationally designed separator endows Li-S batteries with higher safety and excellent electrochemical performances,providing a feasible strategy for practical application of Li-S batteries.