SBIR Phase I: Mesoporous Nanoparticle Flame Retardants

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目研究了介孔硅酸盐纳米颗粒的特性，以及这些颗粒作为热固性和热塑性聚合物的无毒、炭化阻燃剂（FRs）的用途。该项目阐明了硅酸盐成分的物理化学性质（例如，表面积、孔径、孔体积、表面极性和化学成分）与中间相在形成碳质和陶瓷炭中的有效性之间的关系，而碳质和陶瓷炭是支持燃烧的三种成分（热、氧和挥发性燃料）的屏障。为了实现这一目标，通过掺杂硅酸盐表面来提高催化表面酸度（碳质炭）和将硅酸盐与低温无机烧结助剂（陶瓷炭）相结合来改善两种形式的炭的质量。该研究项目还研究了传统阻燃剂在骨架孔隙和表面的分散，通过与硅酸盐中间相的协同作用和添加剂相互作用来提高阻燃效果。感兴趣的多组分FR配方包括在凝聚相（例如，膨胀型多磷酸盐，吸热金属氢氧化物）和气相（例如，分子磷剂和卤化化合物）中起作用的剂。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是进一步推动全球努力减少聚合物中卤化阻燃剂的消耗，因为卤化阻燃剂在生产、丢弃和/或燃烧时会对环境产生负面影响。制造商面临着进一步的挑战，因为添加所有现有的FR化合物会降低它们所合成的聚合物的机械性能。这个项目的结果将直接解决这两个问题。我们的完全无毒，硅基，介孔纳米颗粒为广泛的聚合物提供阻燃和机械性能增强。拟议的研究提供了许多广泛的社会和商业影响。进一步提高介孔硅酸盐组合物作为聚合物阻燃剂的功效将通过更好地理解塑料燃烧的机制来推进知识。扩大我们的生产设施以满足客户需求将创造就业机会，并增加使用环保和国内采购的原材料。随着这些产品在国内和世界范围内被广泛采用，人类对内分泌活性化学物质的接触将减少，这与对卤化FR制剂依赖的预期减少是一致的。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project investigates the properties of mesoporous silicate nanoparticles and the use of these particles as non-toxic, char-forming flame retardants (FRs) for thermoset and thermoplastic polymers. The project elucidates the relationship between the physiochemical properties of the silicate compositions (e.g., surface area, pore size, pore volume, surface polarity and chemical composition) and the effectiveness of the mesophases in forming carbonaceous and ceramic chars that function as a barrier toward the three components that support combustion (heat, oxygen, and volatile fuel). In order to accomplish this objective, the quality of the two forms of char is being improved by doping the silicate surfaces to enhance catalytic surface acidity (carbonaceous char) and by integrating the silicates with low temperature inorganic sintering aids (ceramic char). The research program also investigates the dispersion of conventional FR agents within the framework's pores and surfaces for improved flame retardant efficacy through synergistic and additive interactions with the silicate mesophase. The multi-component FR formulations of interest include agents that function in the condensed phase (e.g., intumescent polyphosphates, endothermic metal hydroxides) and the gaseous phase (e.g., molecular phosphorus agents and halogenated compounds).The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to further the global efforts to reduce the consumption of halogenated flame retardant agents in polymers, due to their negative impact on the environment when they are produced, discarded, and/or burned. Manufacturers are further challenged because the addition of all existing FR compounds diminishes the mechanical properties of the polymer into which they are compounded. The outcome of this project will directly address both of these concerns. Our completely non-toxic, silica-based, mesoporous nanoparticles provide both flame retardation and mechanical property enhancement for a broad range of polymers. The proposed research provides a number of broad, societal and commercial impacts. Further improving the efficacy of mesoporous silicate compositions as FR agents for polymers will advance knowledge by yielding a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the combustion of plastics. Scaling our production facility to meet customer demand will result in job creation and increased use of environmentally friendly and domestically sourced raw materials. As these products become broadly adopted, both domestically and around the world, human exposure to endocrine-active chemicals will be reduced, in accord with the anticipated reduction of dependence on halogenated FR agents.