MOF-derived strategy for in-situ assembly of nickel phyllosilicate nanoflowers: Enhancing smoke suppression, flame retardancy and mechanical properties of epoxy resins

Epoxy resin (EP) is a highly versatile polymer extensively used in high-end applications, including aerospace components, electronics encapsulation and adhesives. To custom-design flame retardant materials for high-performance epoxy resins, a MOF-derived zeolitic imidazolate framework-8@nickel phyllosilicate (ZIF@Ni-PS) was synthesized through the in-situ assembly of nickel phyllosilicate nanoflowers. The results showed that the smoke suppression, flame retardancy, and mechanical properties of the EP composites containing 5 wt% ZIF@Ni-PS were significantly enhanced. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) and the peak smoke production rate (pSPR) were reduced by 33.2 % and 12.7 %, respectively. The presence of ZIF@Ni-PS promoted the formation of a dense, high-quality carbon layer that isolated heat and oxygen transfer, effectively reducing heat release during combustion and suppressing smoke generation. Furthermore, the imidazole ring and Zn ions on the surface of ZIF@Ni-PS facilitated the formation of coordination and hydrogen bonds with the epoxy (EP), thereby enhancing the dispersion, compatibility, and mechanical properties of the epoxy resin matrix. This study presents a straightforward preparation method for high-performance EP composites, providing a novel pathway for EP research.