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Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymer Composites

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1101

Editors

School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: high-performance polymers; thermal stability; polymeric membrane materials; coatings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As polymer composites become increasingly integral to the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries, enhancing their fire safety remains a critical challenge. This SI explores cutting-edge strategies to reduce flammability while maintaining or improving mechanical performance. Key topics include the development of bio-based flame retardants, the synergistic effects of nanofillers (such as graphene and carbon nanotubes), and the implementation of intumescent systems. By shifting away from halogenated additives toward sustainable, high-efficiency alternatives, this collection highlights innovative chemical treatments and structural designs that minimize heat release rates and reduce smoke production. Ultimately, this Special Issue aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for achieving a balance between high-performance functionality and stringent fire safety standards.

Dr. Fei Xiao
Dr. Fen Zhou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • flame retardant
  • fire protection
  • thermal degradation
  • fire safety
  • composites
  • polymers
  • coatings

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 2990 KB  
Article
Improvement of Flame Retardancy on Polyamide 6 Composites via Melamine Polyphosphate-Modified Carbon Nanotubes
by Xuejun Shi, Xiangxiang Du, Xiaodong Zhao, Meiying Wang, Quanshuai Liu, Bo Hong, Yongjun Han, Haoxuan Sun and Wei Yuan
Polymers 2026, 18(5), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18050643 - 6 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 736
Abstract
Melamine polyphosphate (MPP) is a widely employed additive-type flame retardant for polyamide 6. Generally, a higher loading of MPP leads to improved flame retardancy of polyamide 6 composites. Nevertheless, excessive addition tends to cause problems such as flame-retardant migration, leakage, and exudation. Against [...] Read more.
Melamine polyphosphate (MPP) is a widely employed additive-type flame retardant for polyamide 6. Generally, a higher loading of MPP leads to improved flame retardancy of polyamide 6 composites. Nevertheless, excessive addition tends to cause problems such as flame-retardant migration, leakage, and exudation. Against this background, this work focuses on covalently grafting melamine polyphosphate onto the surface of carbon nanotubes via a facile chemical reaction, with the aim of alleviating the migration and leakage of the flame retardant in the polyamide 6 matrix. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were surface modified with a silane coupling agent (KH560) to obtain CNTs bearing epoxy groups (CNT-KH560). Subsequently, a ring-opening addition reaction was conducted between the CNT-KH560 and melamine polyphosphate (MPP) yielding carbon nanotubes with surface-bonded flame-retardant MPP (CNTM). Polyamide 6 composite slices (PA6/CNTM) were prepared via twin-screw extrusion blending and compounding and then by hot-press molding into test specimens. The modified carbon nanotubes were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results confirmed the successful grafting of MPP onto the carbon nanotube surface, with a grafting degree of 9.1 g/100 g measured. The flame retardancy of the PA6/CNTM composites were evaluated through UL 94 vertical burning and limiting oxygen index (LOI) tests and cone calorimeter. These flame retardancy results indicated that when the content of flame-retardant-modified carbon nanotubes was 10 wt%, the PA6/CNTM10 composites achieved UL 94 V-2 and the limiting oxygen index increased from 24.5% of pure PA6 to 29.1%. The PHRR value of pure PA6 decreased from 750 kW/m2 to 614 kW/m2. This design of surface-grafted flame retardant provides a new strategy for the preparation and application of high-performance polyamide 6 flame-retardant composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Flame-Retardant Polymer Composites)
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