Polyimide Copolymers and Nanocomposites: A Review of the Synergistic Effects of the Constituents on the Fire-Retardancy Behavior

Shengdong Xiao, Caroline Akinyi, Jimmy Longun and Jude O. Iroh
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Shengdong Xiao: Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
Caroline Akinyi: Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
Jimmy Longun: Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
Jude O. Iroh: Materials Science and Engineering Program, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 11, 1-29

Abstract: Carbon-based polymer can catch fire when used as cathode material in batteries and supercapacitors, due to short circuiting. Polyimide is known to exhibit flame retardancy by forming char layer in condensed phase. The high char yield of polyimide is attributed to its aromatic nature and the existence of a donor–acceptor complex in its backbone. Fabrication of hybrid polyimide material can provide better protection against fire based on multiple fire-retardancy mechanisms. Nanocomposites generally show a significant enhancement in mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Nanoparticles, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, can enhance flame retardancy in condensed phase by forming a dense char layer. Silicone-based materials can also provide fire retardancy in condensed phase by a similar mechanism as polyimide. However, some inorganic fire retardants, such as phosphazene, can enhance flame retardancy in gaseous phase by releasing flame inhibiting radicals. The flame inhibiting radicals generated by phosphazene are released into the gaseous phase during combustion. A hybrid system constituted of polyimide, silicone-based additives, and phosphazene would provide significant improvement in flame retardancy in both the condensed phase and gas phase. In this review, several flame-retardant polyimide-based systems are described. This review which focuses on the various combinations of polyimide and other candidate fire-retardant materials would shed light on the nature of an effective multifunctional flame-retardant hybrid materials.

Keywords: flame-retardant polymers; polyimide; nanocomposites; synergistic fire retardants; phosphazenes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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