Creating multilayer-structured polystyrene composites for enhanced fire safety and electromagnetic shielding

Two-dimensional (2D) titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) with high electrical conductivity and large active surfaces has attracted extensive attention in recent years. Here, in order to address the fire safety and poor electromagnetic shielding performance of polystyrene (PS), a highly effective cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide-multi-wall carbon nanotubes@Ti3C2Tx (C-MWCNT@Ti3C2Tx) bilayer was deposited on PS sphere to achieve PS@C-MWCNT@Ti3C2Tx (PCT) composites for improving its fire safety and electromagnetic shielding performances. In addition, Ti3C2Tx and gamma-propyl-trimethoxysilane (KH550) were adopted to modify silicon wrapped ammonium polyphosphate (SiAPP-NH2@Ti3C2Tx) via the microencapsulation strategy. Finally, the SiAPP-NH2@Ti3C2Tx was incorporated into PCT composites to fabricate excellent fire-resistant PS composites, i.e. PCTS. The obtained results demonstrated that Ti3C2Tx not only promoted the thermal stability and fire safety but also enhanced the electromagnetic shielding performance of PS. For instance, the PS composite with three number of C-MWCNT@Ti3C2Tx bilayers (PCTS3) exhibited dramatically lowest the peak of heat release rate (528 kW/m(2)) and highest electromagnetic shielding effectiveness value (11 dB), indicative of the excellent flame retardant and considerable electromagnetic shielding properties. This work sheds light on the design of multifunctional multilayer structured polymer composites.

Automated summary

In this study, a highly effective multi-wall carbon nanotubes@titanium carbide bilayer was deposited on the surface of polystyrene to improve its fire safety and electromagnetic shielding performance. The results demonstrated that the multi-functional multi-layer structured composite exhibited excellent flame retardant and electromagnetic shielding properties.