Improving Epoxy Resin Performance with Sepiolite and Al₂O₃- Doped Sepiolite: Flame Retardancy and Thermal Stability

Abstract:

The sepiolite and Al₂O₃-doped sepiolite contents in the as-received sepiolite/epoxy systems were maintained at 2 and 4wt %, respectively. The flame-retardant capabilities and combustion behavior of Al₂O₃-doped sepiolite in epoxy resin were meticulously evaluated through a series of tests including cone calorimetry (CC), limiting oxygen index (LOI), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Several features, including degradation kinetics, combustion characteristics, thermomechanical properties, flame retardancy, and thermal degradation were evaluated with the intention of drawing comparisons to standard sepiolite. The findings from the studies were positive. In contrast, Al₂O₃-doped sepiolite not only further improved the LOI values and char formation post-cone testing but also decreased the previously mentioned combustion-related parameters in the composites. A potential synergistic interaction between sepiolite and Al₂O₃ in augmenting the flame retardancy of the composite was suggested. The thermal degradation of composites was only little affected by addition of sepiolite, although Al₂O₃-doped sepiolite addition seemed to speed up the deterioration process. The epoxy composite’s glass transition temperature (Tg) was shown to increase when sepiolite or Al₂O₃-doped sepiolite was added, as determined by DMA. The findings presented in this research provided a practical approach to improving the fireproofing of polymers. Keywords: Al2O3-doped sepiolite; TGA, flame retardancy; DSC, epoxy; thermal properties.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 1136)
• Pages: 29-40
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-EIJv9w
• Online since: December 2024
• Authors: Nischal P. Mungle, Nimish H. Vasoya, T.G Sakthivel, R. Rathinam, S. Selvarasu, P. Satishkumar*
• Keywords: Al₂O₃-Doped Sepiolite, DSC, Epoxy, Flame Retardancy, TGA, Thermal Property

References

[1] R. Girimurugan, Pon.Maheskumar, G. Sahoo, A. Sivalingam, and S. Mayakannan, "Effect of nano alumina powder and water hyacinth stem powder addition on tensile properties of polypropylene matrix hybrid composites – An experimental study," Mater Today Proc, vol. 60, p.2099–2104, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.01.477

[2] K. Srividya et al., "Design and analysis of wear parameters for epoxy based composite using RSM-box behnken optimization tool," International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing, 2023.

DOI: 10.1007/s12008-023-01449-8

[3] A. R. Lakshmipathi et al., "Shear strength, wear, thermal conductivity, and hydrophobicity behavior of fox millet husk biosilica and Amaranthus dubius stem fiber–reinforced epoxy composite: a concept of biomass conversion," Biomass Convers Biorefin, 2023.

DOI: 10.1007/s13399-023-04854-x

[4] S. Thangaraj, G. M. Pradeep, M. S. Heaven Dani, S. Mayakannan, and A. Benham, "Experimental investigations on tensile and compressive properties of nano alumina and arecanut shell powder reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites," Mater Today Proc, vol. 68, p.2243–2248, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.08.442

[5] R. Girimurugan, G. B. Loganathan, G. Sivaraman, C. Shilaja, and S. Mayakannan, "Compressive Behavior of Tamarind Shell Powder and Fine Granite Particles Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Based Hybrid Bio-Composites," 2022, p.7111–7118.

DOI: 10.1149/10701.7111ecst

[6] P. Thamizharasu et al., "Improvement of thermal performance of a solar box type cooker using SiO 2/TiO 2 Nanolayer," Silicon, p.1–9, 2020.

[7] K. Venkateswarlu and K. Ramakrishna, "Recent advances in phase change materials for thermal energy storage-a review," Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, vol. 44, no. 1, p.6, 2022.

DOI: 10.1007/s40430-021-03308-7

[8] A. Raut, R. J. Singh, A. Murmu, and K. A. Khan, "Evaluation of thermal and energy consumption behavior of novel foamed copper slag based geopolymer masonry blocks," Ceram Int, vol. 48, no. 9, p.12098–12111, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.01.070

[9] R. Girimurugan, C. Shilaja, S. Mayakannan, S. Rajesh, and B. Aravinth, "Experimental investigations on flexural and compressive properties of epoxy resin matrix sugarcane fiber and tamarind seed powder reinforced bio-composites," Mater Today Proc, vol. 66, p.822–828, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.386

[10] Y. Qian, S. Zhou, and X. Chen, "Synergistic flame retardant effect between nano-silicon dioxide and layered double hydroxides in ethylene vinyl acetate composites," Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials, vol. 31, no. 10, p.1295–1309, 2018.

DOI: 10.1177/0892705717738287

[11] X. J. Zhang et al., "Ternary flame retardant system of ammonium polyphosphate-diatomite-NANO-SiO2 and its application in fibrous materials," Dig J Nanomater Biostruct, vol. 15, no. 1, p.85–92, (2020)

[12] N.H. Huang, Z. J. Chen, C.H. Yi, and J. Q. Wang, "Synergistic flame retardant effects between sepiolite and magnesium hydroxide in ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix," Express Polym Lett, vol. 4, no. 4, p.227–233, 2010.

DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2010.29

[13] C. Jiao, X. Zhao, W. Song, and X. Chen, "Synergistic flame retardant and smoke suppression effects of ferrous powder with ammonium polyphosphate in thermoplastic polyurethane composites," J Therm Anal Calorim, vol. 120, no. 2, p.1173–1181, 2015.

DOI: 10.1007/s10973-014-4377-z

[14] Y. Han et al., "Remarkable effects of silicone rubber on flame retardant property of high-density polyethylene/magnesium hydroxide composites," Polym Degrad Stab, vol. 203, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2022.110061

[15] C.I. Idumah, A. Hassan, and A.C. Affam, "A review of recent developments in flammability of polymer nanocomposites," Reviews in Chemical Engineering, vol.31, no. 2, p.149–177, 2015.

DOI: 10.1515/revce-2014-0038

[16] X. Chen, L. Liu, C. Jiao, Y. Qian, and S. Li, "Influence of ferrite yellow on combustion and smoke suppression properties in intumescent flame-retardant epoxy composites," High Perform Polym, vol. 27, no. 4, p.412–425, 2015.

DOI: 10.1177/0954008314553644

[17] L. Dong, Y. Su, C. Wang, Y. Qiao, Y. Chen, and H. Ma, "Synthesis of Micro- to Nano-scale Perovskite Calcium Hydroxytinate and Its Performance as a Flame Retardant in Epoxy Resin," Gaodeng Xuexiao Huaxue Xuebao/Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, vol. 42, no. 3, p.937–945, 2021.

[18] W. Meng et al., "Assembling MXene with bio-phytic acid: Improving the fire safety and comprehensive properties of epoxy resin," Polym Test, vol. 110, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2022.107564

[19] Y. Liu, B. Xu, L. Qian, Y. Chen, and Y. Qiu, "Impact on flame retardancy and degradation behavior of intumescent flame-retardant EP composites by a hyperbranched triazine-based charring agent," Polym Adv Technol, vol. 31, no. 12, p.3316–3327, 2020.

DOI: 10.1002/pat.5055

[20] Y. Zou, W. Cui, D. Chen, F. Luo, and H. Li, "In Situ-Generated Heat-Resistant Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework for Remarkably Improving Both Flame Retardancy and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites," ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2023.

DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09197

[21] X. Chen, L. Liu, and C. Jiao, "Influence of Iron Oxide Brown on Smoke-Suppression Properties and Combustion Behavior of Intumescent Flame-Retardant Epoxy Composites," Advances in Polymer Technology, vol. 34, no. 4, 2015.

DOI: 10.1002/adv.21516

[22] M.-J. Xu, S.-Y. Xia, C. Liu, and B. Li, "Preparation of Poly(phosphoric acid piperazine) and Its Application as an Effective Flame Retardant for Epoxy Resin," Chinese Journal of Polymer Science (English Edition), vol. 36, no. 5, p.655–664, 2018.

DOI: 10.1007/s10118-018-2036-8

[23] L. Liu, X. Chen, and C. Jiao, "Influence of ferrocene on smoke suppression properties and combustion behavior of intumescent flame-retardant epoxy composites," J Therm Anal Calorim, vol. 122, no. 1, p.437–447, 2015.

DOI: 10.1007/s10973-015-4928-y

[24] M. Ou et al., "Co-curing preparation of flame retardant and smoke-suppressive epoxy resin with a novel phosphorus-containing ionic liquid," Chemosphere, vol. 311, 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137061

[25] A. Sethurajaperumal, A. Manohar, A. Banerjee, E. Varrla, H. Wang, and K. Ostrikov, "A thermally insulating vermiculite nanosheet-epoxy nanocomposite paint as a fire-resistant wood coating," Nanoscale Adv, vol. 3, no. 14, p.4235–4243, 2021.

DOI: 10.1039/d1na00207d

[26] L. Ali et al., "Removal of Bromine from the non-metallic fraction in printed circuit board via its Co-pyrolysis with alumina," Waste Management, vol. 137, p.283–293, 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2021.11.025