Improving Fire Safety of Epoxy Resin with Alkyl Glycoside Modified CuAl-Layered Double Hydroxide.

To further improve carbonization efficiency of epoxy resin (EP) composites to form compact protective layers during combustion process, alkyl glycoside modified CuAl layered double hydroxide (CuAl-(APG)LDH) was designed and synthesized via one-step coprecipitation method, which was incorporated into EP matrix for preparing EP/CuAl-(APG)LDH nanocomposites. The results of XRD and TEM confirmed that EP nanocomposites with low incorporation of CuAl-(APG)LDH were exfoliated structures. The TGA results showed that the incorporation of CuAl-(APG)LDH remarkably increased the residues at 700 degrees C. The improved flame retardancy of EP/CuAl-(APG)LDH nanocomposites was proved by cone calorimeter test. The peak heat release rate, total heat release, peak smoke production rate and total smoke production value of EP/4 wt%CuAl-(APG)LDH nanocomposites dramatically decreased, which were attributed to the formation of hard and condensed residual layers on the surface of EP/CuAl-(APG)LDH nanocomposites.