Hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene Functionalized Graphene Oxide as a Highly Efficient Flame Retardant

A flame-retardant composite was synthesized through a simple graphene oxide functionalization route with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and p-phenylenediamine. Flame experiments conducted on the synthesized composite proved its importance as tremendously resistant to fire. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows clearly that the functionalized graphene oxide (FGO) exhibits an enhanced thermal stability and better temperature resistance. A thermoset epoxy resin was prepared by incorporating different percentages (2, 5, and 10%) of FGO to diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The flame-retardant properties, thermal degradation behavior, and combustion of the DGEBA thermosets cured by m-phenylenediamine were investigated using a Bunsen burner flame approaching the flame temperature of a fire and TGA. The chemical structure of FGO was characterized with spectroscopic and imaging techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, TGA, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy elemental mapping, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Due to its high flame-retardant capabilities, such a composite could promise potential applications in the manufacture of inflammable materials for different uses.