The influence of graphene based smoke suppression agents on reduced fire hazards of polystyrene composites

In this work, typical smoke suppression agent particles decorated on graphene nanosheets were facilely synthesized by a solvothermal method for reducing the fire hazards of polymer composites. The structure, elemental composition and morphology of the hybrids were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy measurements. Subsequently, the hybrids were incorporated into polystyrene for improvement of the thermal stability and reduction of fire hazards. The hybrids were well dispersed in PS matrix and no obvious aggregation of graphene nanosheets was observed. The obtained nanocomposites exhibited significant improvements in thermal stability, flame retardancy and reduced the fire toxicity, compared with those of neat polystyrene. This dramatically reduced fire hazard was mainly ascribed to the combined effects of smoke suppression agent particles and graphene nanosheets, containing good dispersion of hybrids, catalytic char function of hybrids and physical barrier effects of graphene nanosheets. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.