Thermal and Flame Retardant Properties of Phosphate-Functionalized Silica/Epoxy Nanocomposites

We report a flame retardant epoxy nanocomposite reinforced with 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenantrene-10-oxide (DOPO)-tethered SiO(2) (DOPO-t-SiO(2)) hybrid nanoparticles (NPs). The DOPO-t-SiO(2) NPs were successfully synthesized through surface treatment of SiO(2) NPs with (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), followed by a click reaction between GPTMS on SiO(2) and DOPO. The epoxy nanocomposites with DOPO-t-SiO(2) NPs as multifunctional additive exhibited not only high flexural strength and fracture toughness but also excellent flame retardant properties and thermal stability, compared to those of pristine epoxy and epoxy nanocomposites with a single additive of SiO(2) or DOPO, respectively. Our approach allows a facile, yet effective strategy to synthesize a functional hybrid additive for developing flame retardant nanocomposites.