Sulfolane‑Based Flame‑Retardant Electrolyte for High‑Voltage Sodium‑Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries hold great promise as next-generation energy storage systems.However,the high instability of the electrode/electrolyte interphase during cycling has seriously hindered the development of SIBs.In particular,an unstable cathode–electrolyte interphase(CEI)leads to successive electrolyte side reactions,transition metal leaching and rapid capacity decay,which tends to be exacerbated under high-voltage conditions.Therefore,constructing dense and stable CEIs are crucial for high-performance SIBs.This work reports localized high-concentration electrolyte by incorporating a highly oxidation-resistant sulfolane solvent with non-solvent diluent 1H,1H,5H-octafluoropentyl-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl ether,which exhibited excellent oxidative stability and was able to form thin,dense and homogeneous CEI.The excellent CEI enabled the O3-type layered oxide cathode NaNi_(1/3)Mn_(1/3)Fe_(1/3)O_(2)(NaNMF)to achieve stable cycling,with a capacity retention of 79.48%after 300 cycles at 1 C and 81.15%after 400 cycles at 2 C with a high charging voltage of 4.2 V.In addition,its nonflammable nature enhances the safety of SIBs.This work provides a viable pathway for the application of sulfolane-based electrolytes on SIBs and the design of next-generation high-voltage electrolytes.

Pyrolysis Mechanism of a Cyclotriphosphazene-Based Flame-Retardant Epoxy Resin by ReaxFF Molecular Dynamics

Cyclotriphosphazene derivatives can effectively improve the flame retardancy and fire safety of epoxy resins(EPs)via their influence on the pyrolysis process.In this work,the effects of hexa(5-methyl-2-pyridinoxyl)cyclotriphosphazene(HMPOP)incorporation on the initial pyrolysis of an EP at 500–3500 K were studied using the ReaxFF method.The pyrolysis fragments,initial reaction pathways,and main products were identified for the EP and EP/HMPOP composites.The activation energies were derived by fitting the weight percentage curves for solid species during the pyrolysis reactions and the obtained values were in good agreement with experimental data.The initial EP pyrolysis reactions included four major decomposition modes,which primarily involved the cleavage of C–O and C–N bonds.The main pyrolysis products were H_(2)O,CO,C_(2)H_(4),and CH_(2)O.HMPOP bonded with the oxygen-containing fragments to form larger molecular fragments and reduced the amounts of C_(0)–C_(4) products,especially that of the harmful gas CH_(2)O.Thus,HMPOP promoted the formation of carbon clusters and reduced the generation of combustible gases,ultimately decreasing the capacity for fire propagation.

Superior and safer lithium sulfur batteries realized by robust polysulfides-retarding dam with high flame retardance

The unparalleled energy density has granted lithium-sulfur batteries(LSBs)with attractive usages.Unfortunately,LSBs still face some unsurpassed challenges in industrialization,with polysulfides shuttling,dendrite growth and thermal hazard as the major problems triggering the cycling instability and low safety.With the merit of convenience,the method of designing functional separator has been adapted.Concretely,the carbon aerogel confined with CoS_(2)(CoS_(2)-NCA)is constructed and coated on Celgard separator surface,acquiring CoS_(2)-NCA modified separator(CoS_(2)-NCA@C),which holds the promoted electrolyte affinity and flame retardance.As revealed,CoS_(2)-NCA@C cell gives a high discharge capacity 1536.9 mAh/g at 1st cycle,much higher than that of Celgard cell(987.1 mAh/g).Moreover,the thermal runaway triggering time is dramatically prolonged by 777.4 min,corroborating the promoted thermal safety of cell.Noticeably,the higher coulombic efficiency stability and lower overpotential jointly confirm the efficacy of CoS_(2)-NCA@C in suppressing the lithium dendrite growth.Overall,this work can provide useful inspirations for designing functional separator,coping with the vexing issues of LSBs.

Levels and distribution of brominated flame retardants in the soil of Harbin in China

This study reports the presence of brominated flame retardants in the topsoil in and around Harbin, a city in northeastern China. Samples of soil were collected from 17 locations in 2006, and the levels of 9 polybrominated diphenylethers （PBDEs 17, 28, 47, 66, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183） ranged from 2.45 to 55.9 pg/g dry weight （dw） with a mean of 26.3 pg/g dw. These levels are very low comparing with those for some cities in Europe and USA. BDE 209 and hexabromocyclododecane were the two dominant congeners, with mean concentrations of 520 pg/g dw and 1750 pg/g dw, respectively. The concentrations of the total nine PBDE congeners clearly decreased from urban areas to background, but the compositions of individual congeners differed. Proportions of heavier congeners decreased while those of lighter congeners increased, along urban-rural-background transect, providing evidence for an urban fractionation effect. Correlation analysis indicated similar sources for PBDEs, hexabromocyclododecane, and 1,2-bis（2,4,6-tribromophenoxy）-ethane from urban areas but pentabromoethylbenzene was probably present due to long-range atmospheric transport. Principal component analysis was used to determine the characteristics of the relationships among these brominated flame retardants in the field.

Preparation of Polyurea Elastomer with Flame Retardant, Insulation and Thermal Conductivity Properties

By using 6,6-((sulfonylbis(4,1-phenylene)bis(azanediyl))bis(thiophen-2-ylm-ethylene))bis6H-di-benzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide(DOPO-N)as phosphorus-nitrogen flame retardant,the polyurea(PUA)with flame retardant properties(PUA/DOPO-N)was prepared.In addition,organically modified montmorillonite(OMMT)and magnesium hydroxide(MH)were used as co-effectors respectively,and the flame retardant PUA(PUA/DOPO-N/OMMT and PUA/DOPO-N/MH)were also prepared.Thermal properties,flame retardant properties,flame retardant mechanism and mechanical properties of PUA/DOPO-N,PUA/DOPO-N/OMMT and PUA/DOPO-N/MH were investigated by thermogravimetric(TG)analysis,limiting oxygen index(LOI),UL 94,cone calorimeter test,scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and tensile test.The results show that the LOI value of PUA/20%DOPO-N,PUA/18%DOPO-N/2%OMMT and PUA/15%DOPO-N/5%MH are 27.1%,27.7%,and 28.3%,respectively,and UL 94 V-0 rating is attained.Compared with PUA,the peak heat release rate(pk-HRR),total heat release(THR)and average effective heat combustion(av-EHC)of PUA/20%DOPO-N,PUA/18%DOPO-N/2%OMMT and PUA/15%DOPO-N/5%MH decrease significantly.SEM results indicate that the residual chars of PUA/20%DOPO-N,PUA/18%DOPO-N/2%OMMT and PUA/15%DOPO-N/5%MH are completer and more compact.The complex of DOPO-N/OMMT and DOPO-N/MH have synergistic flame retardancy.The mechanical properties of PUA can be improved by the addition of DOPO-N,DOPO-N/OMMT and DOPO-N/MH,respectively.The insulation performance test shows that the volume resistivity of PUA/20%DOPO-N is 6.25×10^(16)Ω.cm.Furthermore,by using modified boron nitride(MBN)as heat dissipating material,the complex of PUA/MBN was prepared,and the thermal conductivity of PUA/MBN was investigated.The thermal conductivity of PUA/8%MBN complex coating at room temperature is 0.166 W/(M·K),which is a 163%improvement over pure PUA.

Synthesis of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Aluminum Hypophosphite Microspheres Flame Retardant and Its Flame Retardant Research on Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Aluminum hypophosphite microspheres(AHP) were synthesized by hydrothermal method using NaH2PO2·H2O and AlCl3·6H2O as raw materials, and then the AHP microspheres were polymerized by surface polymerization of micro-nanospheres with cyclic cross-linked poly(cyclotriphosphazene-co-4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol)(PZS). A new organic-inorganic poly(phosphonitrile)-modified aluminum hypophosphite microspheres(PZS-AHP) were synthesized by encapsulation and applied to flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU). The microstructure and chemical composition of the PZS-AHP microsphere were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. The thermal stability of PZS-AHP microsphere was explored with thermogravimetric analysis. Thermogravimetric data indicate that the PZS-AHP microspheres have excellent thermal stability. The thermal and flame-retarding properties of the TPU composites were evaluated by thermogravimetric(TG), limited oxygen index tests(LOI), and cone calorimeter test(CCT). The TPU composite achieved vertical burning(UL-94) V-0 grade and LOI value reached 29.2% when 10 wt% PZS-AHP was incorporated. Compared with those of pure TPU, the peak heat release rate(pHRR) and total heat release(THR) of TPU/10%PZS-AHP decreased by 82.2% and 42.5%, respectively. The results of CCT indicated that PZS-AHP microsphere could improve the flame retardancy of TPU composites.

Ten-Minute Synthesis of a New Redox-Active Aqueous Binder for Flame-Retardant Li-S Batteries

As a critical role in battery systems,polymer binders have been shown to efficiently suppress the lithium polysulfide shuttling and accommodate volume changes in recent years.However,preparation processes and safety,as the key criterions for Li-S batteries'practical applications,still attract less attention.Herein,an aqueous multifunction binder(named PEI-TIC)is prepared via an easy and fast epoxy-amine ring-opening reaction(10 min),which can not only give the sulfur cathode a stable mechanical property,a strong chemical adsorption and catalytic conversion ability,but also a fire safety improvement.The Li-S batteries based on the PEI-TIC binder display a high discharge capacity(1297.8 mAh g^(-1)),superior rate performance(823.0 mAh g^(-1)at 2 C),and an ultralow capacity decay rate of 0.035%over more than 800 cycles.Even under 7.1 mg cm^(-2)S-loaded,the PEI-TIC electrode can also achieve a high areal capacity of 7.2 mA h g^(-1)and excellent cycling stability,confirming its application potential.Moreover,it is also noted that TG-FTIR test is performed for the first time to explore the flame-retardant mechanism of polymer binders.This work provides an economically and environmentally friendly binder for the practical application and inspires the exploration of the flame-retardant mechanism of all electrode components.

Superior Mechanical Behavior and Flame Retardancy FRP via a Distribution Controllable 1D/2D Hybrid Nanoclay Synergistic Toughening Strategy

The incorporation of commercial flame retardants into fiber-reinforced polymer(FRP)composites has been proposed as a potential solution to improve the latter’s poor flame resistance.However,this approach often poses a challenge,as it can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the FRP.Thus,balancing the need for improved flame resistance with the preservation of mechanical integrity remains a complex issue in FRP research.Addressing this critical concern,this study introduces a novel additive system featuring a combination of one-dimensional(1D)hollow tubular structured halloysite nanotubes(HNTs)and two-dimensional(2D)polygonal flake-shaped nano kaolinite(NKN).By employing a 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system,this research aims to simultaneously improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties.This innovative approach offers several advantages.During combustion and pyrolysis processes,the 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclay system proves effective in reducing heat release and volatile leaching.Furthermore,the system facilitates the formation of reinforcing skeletons through a crosslinking mechanism during pyrolysis,resulting in the development of a compact char layer.This char layer acts as a protective barrier,enhancing the material’s resistance to heat and flames.In terms of mechanical properties,the multilayered polygonal flake-shaped 2D NKN plays a crucial role by impeding the formation of cracks that typically arise from vulnerable areas,such as adhesive phase particles.Simultaneously,the 1D HNT bridges these cracks within the matrix,ensuring the structural integrity of the composite material.In an optimal scenario,the homogeneously distributed 1D/2D hybrid kaolinite nanoclays exhibit remarkable results,with a 51.0%improvement in mode II fracture toughness(GIIC),indicating increased resistance to crack propagation.In addition,there is a 34.5%reduction in total heat release,signifying improved flame retardancy.This study represents a significant step forward in the field of composite materials.The innovative use of hybrid low-dimensional nanomaterials offers a promising avenue for the development of multifunctional composites.By carefully designing and incorporating these nanoclays,researchers can potentially create a new generation of FRP composites that excel in both flame resistance and mechanical strength.

Biobased Furfurylated Poplar Wood for Flame-Retardant Modification with Boric Acid and Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate

Furfurylated wood exhibits excellent dimensional stability and corrosion resistance,making it a promising material for constructing buildings,but it is highly flammable.Herein,flame-retardant furfurylated poplar wood was produced via a two-step process utilizing boric acid(BA)and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate(ADP)as flame-retardant components,and biomass-derived furfuryl alcohol(FA)as a modifier.The acidity of BA and ADP allowed them to catalyze the polymerization of FA,which formed a cross-linked network that immobilized BA and ADP inside the wood.The addition of BA/ADP substantially delayed the time to ignition from 10 to 385 s and reduced the total heat release and total smoke release by 58.75%and 77.31%,respectively.Analysis of the pyrolysis process showed that the decomposition products of BA and ADP protected the underlying furfurylated wood and diluted combustible gases.This method significantly improved the fire retardancy and smokeless properties of furfurylated wood,providing promising prospects for its application as an engineering material.

Exposure Level, Toxicity Effects and Health Risk Assessment of Organophosphorus Flame Retardants in Water Environment

Organophosphorus flame retardants(OPFRs) are gradually replacing brominated flame retardants(BFRs), which are widely used in the world. The increasing output of OPFRs and the increasing detection of OPFRs in environmental media have attracted wide attention of scholars at home and abroad. OPFRs are generally semi-volatile, easy to enter the environment and accumulate in organisms,causing potential hazards to the environment and human health. In this paper, the pollution status and toxic effects of OPFRs in aquatic environment were introduced,and the research progress of human health risk caused by them was summarized.The existing problems were pointed out, and the future research was prospected. In the future, the analytical methods of various environmental and biological media should be improved, and comprehensive and in-depth environmental investigation and ecological and health risk assessment should be carried out. Attention should be paid to the effects of combined pollution on organisms and the study of biological acceptability.

Flame Retardancy Enhancement of Hybrid Composite Material by Using Inorganic Retardants

This study aims to investigate the possibility of improving the flame Retardancy for the hybrid composite material consisting araldite resin (CY223). The hybrid composite was reinforced by hybrid fibers from carbon and Kevlar fibers on woven roving form (45o -0o), by using a surface layer of 4mm thick of Zinc Borate flame retardant. Afterward, the structure was exposed directly to gas flame of 2000oC due to 10 mm and 20mm exposure interval. The retardant layer thermal resistance and protection capability were determined. The study was continued to improve the performance of Zinc Borate layer mixed by 10%, 20% and 30% of Antimony Trioxide. To determine the heat transfer of the composite material the opposite surface temperature method was used. Zinc Borate with (30%) Antimony Trioxide gives the optimized result of the experiment.

Coordination bond cleavage of metal–organic frameworks and application to flame-retardant polymeric materials

The physicochemical properties of metal–organic frameworks(MOFs)are closely dependent on the topology,pore characteristics,and chemical composition,which can be tuned through targeted design.Relative to direct synthesis,the post-synthesis methods of MOFs,including ion exchange,ligand replacement as well as destruction,provide a significant increase in their application range and potential.A method based on the coordination bond cleavage of MOFs has been proved to be very effective in modulating the structure and was evaluated for its application in the flame retardant field.Herein,the construction of peculiar MOF structures is categorized based on flame-retardant features through the cleavage of coordination bonds at the molecular level,and the corresponding MOFs exhibit superior flame-retardant and smoke-suppressing properties.Different approaches are highlighted to achieve coordination bond breaking to modulate MOFs properties,involving chemical composition,topology,and pore structure.This review systematically summarizes and generalizes the direct construction of highefficiency MOF-based flame retardants based on the structure–activity relationship and their further functionalization through coordination bond cleavage,as well as the associated challenges and prospects.It is also hoped that this work will quickly guide researchers through the field and inspire their next studies.

Research Progress in Flame Retardant in Flame Retardant Coatings

Flame retardant coatings are functional materials that can serve as decorative and protec-tive substrates in the event of a fire.Flame retardant coatings generally consist of two parts:a base material and a flame retardant agent.A detailed introduction was given to the development of flame retardant coatings in recent years and the flame retardants used in flame retardant coatings.Flame retardants mainly include halogen flame retar-dants,phosphorus nitrogen flame retardants,expansion flame retardants,biomass flame retardants,and graphene flame retardants.The application of flame retardant coatings in the fields of epoxy resin,polyurethane,etc.was elaborated.In addition,the application of new biomass flame retardants and graphene flame retardants was introduced,and the future development of flame retardant coatings and flame retardants was described.

Studies on Thermal Degradation of Cellulosic Fibers Treated with Flame Retardants

Hemp fabric, one of the most flammable materials, was treated with the compounds containing different kinds of elements that contribute to flame retardation. For a study of flame retardation from the standpoint of thermal degradation, the samples were subjected to thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) in air from ambient temperature to 600℃. The apparent activation energy (Ea) is evaluated by Broido’s method at different stages of thermal degradation to observe the variation of Ea in the process of thermal degradation. Flame retardation of samples was determined by limiting oxygen index (LOI) to find the effects of different compounds on flammability and the thermal degradation of hemp fabric. The composition of the chars was studied by the IR spectra to obtain information concerning the thermal degradation mechanism. Compared with flammable hemp, the hemp fabric treated with flame retardants showed a higher LOI, and lower Ea and decomposition temperatures, which indicates that some compounds make the hemp fabric decompose at lower temperatures, resulting in less flammable products.

SYNTHESES AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CYCLIC ORGANIC BORONATE ESTERS AS FLAME-RETARDANTS

Some organoboron compounds as flame-retardants for fiber materials were prepared.Flame-retarding properties of these compounds determined by the Oxygen-Index Method weregood.These new compounds were characterized by IR,~1H NMR spectrum and elementalanalysis.

A Simplified Analytical Procedure for Simultaneous Determination of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates and Brominated Flame Retardants in Fish Tissue Samples from Vaal River,South Africa

In this study, the concentration of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) were determined in fish samples, Labeo umbratus and Carp, collected from the Vaal River in South Africa. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique was used to extract the organic contaminants from fish samples, and the resulting extract was purified by sulphuric acid lipid removal followed by Strata X-cartridge SPE clean-up. The APEs and BFRs were derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride before analysis with GC-MS. In both types of fish samples, lower oligomers of APEs were more abundant than the higher oligomers, while HBCD, BDE99 and PBB101 were the dominant BFRs. The concentrations of these pollutants ranged from 1.061 ng/g lipids (t-BP) in Labeo umbratus to 11.860 ng/g lipids (HBCD) in Carp.

Study on the Flame-retardant Properties of High Flame-retardant Acrylic Fiber Knitted Fabrics

This paper involved five kinds of weft-knitted fabrics made from high flame-retardant acrylic/cotton(0/100,30/70,50/50,70/30,100/0).The article adopted the vertical burning method,limiting oxygen index method and Cone Calorimeter test method for testing fabric flame retardant property.By comparison with these five fabrics,the effects on the properties of high flame-retardant acrylic fiber knitted fabrics due to the content of high flame-retardant acrylic fiber were analyzed.

An Approach to the Flame Retardancy of EVA Copolymer by Plasma Treatmentc2

An attempt was made in the paper aiming at imparting flame retardancy to polymers by plasma grafting technique Based on EVA copolymers with different VA contents the author tried to use the Ar plasma followed by grafting with/without subsequent saponification and metal ion exchange expediting the charring of polymers upon heationg Characterization of the flammability of the plasma treated EVA copolymers grafted with acrylic monomers(MAA,AA and AAm)indicates that this approach turns out to be a promising way and worthy doing whatever in research and/or applications

Preparation and Flame Retardancy of Polyurethane/POSS Nanocomposites

Polyurethane/polyhedral oligomeric sisesquioxane （PU/POSS） nanocomposites were syn- thesized via polymerization utilizing the compatibility between POSS nanopartieles and 4J-diphenyl methylene diisocyanate. Scanning electron microscope images and Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that POSS nanoparticles were dispersed in PU matrix. Thermal gravimetric analysis was employed to investigate the thermal decomposition be- havior of PU/POSS nanocomposites at elevated temperatures. Then fire performance was evaluated by limiting oxygen index, underwriters laboratories 94 testing and char residue morphology. These results showed that the addition of POSS promoted the formation of char residues which were covered on the surface of polymer composites, leading to the ira-provement of thermal stability and flame retardancy.