Bio-based, selenium/Schiff base-containing co-curing agent enables flame-retardant, smoke-suppressive and mechanically-strong epoxy resins
Article
| Article Title | Bio-based, selenium/Schiff base-containing co-curing agent enables flame-retardant, smoke-suppressive and mechanically-strong epoxy resins |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 3854 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Zhong, Qian, Wang, Cheng, Ye, Guofeng, Guo, Zhenghong, Sai, Ting, Hong, Min, Song, Pingan, Wang, Hao, Huo, Siqi and Liu, Zhitian |
| Journal Title | Chemical Engineering Journal |
| Journal Citation | 523 |
| Article Number | 168756 |
| Number of Pages | 11 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Place of Publication | Netherlands |
| ISSN | 1385-8947 |
| 1873-3212 | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.168756 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385894725095981 |
| Abstract | Epoxy resins (EPs) have excellent overall properties, but their inherent flammability severely limits their industrial applications. Most existing flame-retardant methods rely on phosphorus-based compounds. However, they suffer from bioaccumulation and potential risks to ecosystems and human health. The development of safer and more sustainable phosphorus-free flame-retardant EP systems based on biomass is highly promising but challenging. Herein, a selenium/Schiff base-containing, bio-based flame retardant (SNC) has been successfully synthesized and applied as a multifunctional co-curing agent in EP. The resultant EP containing 15 wt% SNC (EP-SNC15) exhibits enhanced mechanical strength. Additionally, EP-SNC15 achieves a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) of 31.8 % and a vertical burning (UL-94) V-0 rating, and its peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release (THR) decrease by 73.3 % and 56.3 % compared to EP, respectively. Therefore, the excellent flame retardancy and mechanical properties of EP-SNC15 make it superior to previously reported phosphorus-free flame-retardant epoxy systems. The improvement in flame retardancy is attributed to the synergistic catalytic carbonization of selenium-containing and Schiff base groups in SNC in the condensed phase and the free radical quenching of organoselenium groups in the gas phase. Therefore, this work provides a novel design strategy for the development of next-generation, flame-retardant and bio-based EPs. |
| Keywords | Epoxy resin; Organoselenium; Schiff base; Flame retardancy; Mechanical strength |
| Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 401609. Polymers and plastics |
| Byline Affiliations | Wuhan Institute of Technology, China |
| NingboTech University, China | |
| School of Engineering | |
| Centre for Future Materials | |
| School of Agriculture and Environmental Science |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/100674/bio-based-selenium-schiff-base-containing-co-curing-agent-enables-flame-retardant-smoke-suppressive-and-mechanically-strong-epoxy-resins
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