Heterostructured Graphene@Silica@Iron Phenylphosphinate for Fire-Retardant, Strong, Thermally Conductive Yet Electrically Insulated Epoxy Nanocomposites.

ABSTRACT

The portfolio of extraordinary fire retardancy, mechanical properties, dielectric/electric insulating performances, and thermal conductivity (λ) is essential for the practical applications of epoxy resin (EP) in high-end industries. To date, it remains a great challenge to achieve such a performanceportfolio in EP due to their different and even mutually exclusive governing mechanisms. Herein, a multifunctional additive (G@SiO2@FeHP) is fabricated by in situ immobilization of silica (SiO2) and iron phenylphosphinate (FeHP) onto the graphene (G) surface. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of G, SiO2 and FeHP, the addition of 1.0 wt% G@SiO2@FeHP enables EP to achieve a vertical burning (UL-94) V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 30.5%. Besides, both heat release and smoke generation of as-prepared EP nanocomposite are significantly suppressed due to the condensed-phase function of G@SiO2@FeHP. Adding 1.0 wt% G@SiO2@FeHP also brings about 44.5%, 61.1%, and 42.3% enhancements in the tensile strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength of EP nanocomposite. Moreover, the EP nanocomposite exhibits well-preserved dielectric and electric insulating properties and significantly enhanced λ. This work provides an integrated strategy for the development of multifunctional EP materials, thus facilitating their high-performance applications.