Study on the thermal stability and flame retardancy of nanocarbon black based layer-by-layer self-assembled coating modified flexible polyurethane foam

ABSTRACT

Flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) coated with nanocarbon black (nano-CB), alginate and polyethylenemine was prepared by layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The successful synthesis of the target coated PU foams was demonstrated by comparing untreated and treated FPUFs. TGA results showed that the nano-CB could retard the thermal decomposition of treated FPUFs and improve the char residues of FPUF composites at high temperature. In the cone test, the peak heat release rate, peak smoke production rate and total smoke production of the PU-3 (with 17.6 wt% weight-gain) were shown to be reduced by 47.7%, 41.8% and 81.5% as compared with untreated FPUF, respectively.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Nanocarbon black
• Layer-by-Layer Self-assembly
• Flame Retardant
• Smoke Suppression
• Polyurethane Foams

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the support from the Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation of China (LQ19E030018) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (21878064).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21878064]; Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation of China [LQ19E030018].

Notes on contributors

Qianyong Liang

Liang Qianyong was born in China and is currently studying for a master's degree in Hangzhou Dianzi University. His main research direction is the composite modification of layered double hydroxides.

Ying Pan

Ying Pan was born in China and is currently working at Hangzhou Dianzi University. She has received her Ph. D. degree from University of Science and Technology of China in 2017. Her research interests focus on flame retardant nanocomposites and layer-by-layer self-assembled coating.

Ting Lü

Ting Lü was born in China and is currently doing his research work at Hangzhou Dianzi University. He has received his doctor's degree in chemical technology at Zhejiang University. His research interests cover synthesis of polymeric microspheres, fabrication of photonic crystal, oil-water separation.

Hongting Zhao

Dr. Hongting Zhao is a full professor in the field of environmental materials and applications. He received his Ph. D. degree from University of Wyoming, USA in 1998. Following research endeavors in University of Colorado, Washington State University and National Laboratories in USA, he became a professor in the College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University in 2012. His research interests focus on the development of inorganic-organic hybrid materials and applications in water/air purification, mutifunctional polymers and controlled release.