Metal-organic framework MIL-53 (Fe)@C/graphite carbon nitride hybrids with enhanced thermal stability, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression for unsaturated polyester resin

Metal-organic framework MIL-53 (Fe)@C/graphite carbon nitride hybrid (MFeCN), a novel flame retardant, was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction and subsequently added into unsaturated polyester resin (UPR). The structure, morphology, and thermal stability of MFeCN were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The thermal stability and flammability of the UPR composites were characterized by TG and cone calorimeter tests (CCT). The results of CCT demonstrated that the peak heat release rate (pHRR), total heat release (THR), peak smoke production rate (pSPR), and total smoke production (TSP) of UPR/MFeCN-4 were reduced by 39.8%, 10.2%, 33.3%, and 14.5%, respectively, comparing with UPR. The results of TG and CCT indicated that MFeCN could improve the thermal stability, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression properties of the UPR composites. The residues after CCT were then characterized by laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), XPS, and SEM. Finally, based on the above experimental results and analysis, the flame retardancy mechanism of MFeCN was proposed.