Synthesis, characteristic, and flammability of modified carbon nanotube/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) nanocomposites containing phosphorus and silicon

A novel flame retardant containing phosphorus–silicon, spirocyclic pentaerythritol bisphosphorate disphosphorylchloride/9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphanthrene-10-oxide/vinyl methyl dimethoxysilane (SPDV), has been used to modify multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and the m-MWNTs (MWNTs-g-SPDV) was obtained by the covalent grafting of SPDV onto the surfaces of MWNTs. And then the according poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) nanocomposites were prepared via melt blending. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that a core–shell nanostructure with MWNTs as the hard core and SPDV as the soft shell was formed, and the resultant m-MWNTs can achieve better dispersion than pristine MWNTs in EVM matrix. Cone calorimeter results showed that better flame retardancy was obtained for EVM/m-MWNTs nanocomposites. Mechanical measurements showed that the Young’s modulus increases due to the presence of MWNTs or m-MWNTs. The flammability and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are strongly dependent on the dispersion state of nanotubes.