Ultrathin Beta-Nickel hydroxide nanosheets grown along multi-walled carbon nanotubes: A novel nanohybrid for enhancing flame retardancy and smoke toxicity suppression of unsaturated polyester resin.

Novel nanohybrid (β-Ni(OH)-CNTs) obtained by ultrathin Beta-Nickel hydroxide (β-Ni(OH)) nanosheets grown along multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was successfully synthesized and then incorporated into UPR to prepare UPR/β-Ni(OH)-CNTs nanocomposites. Structure of β-Ni(OH)-CNTs nanohybrid was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy measurements. Compared with single CNTs or β-Ni(OH), the dispersion of β-Ni(OH)-CNTs in UPR was improved greatly. And the UPR/β-Ni(OH)-CNTs nanocomposites exhibited significant improvements in flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and mechanical properties, including decreased peak heat release rate by 39.79%, decreased total heat release by 44.87%, decreased smoke release rate by 29.86%, and increased tensile strength by 12.1%. Moreover, the amount of toxic volatile from UPR nanocomposites decomposition was dramatically reduced, and smoke generation was effectively inhibited during combustion. The dramatical reduction of fire hazards can be ascribed to the good dispersion, the catalytic charring effect of β-Ni(OH) nanosheets and physical barrier effect of stable network structure consisted of β-Ni(OH) and CNTs.