Hybrid Nanorods Composed of Titanium, Silicon, and Organophosphorus as Additives for Flame-Retardant Polycarbonate

Upon fabrication of a high-performance functional polymer, an ideal additive should be material that may endow the polymer with an appointed function and meanwhile does not damage or even improve the other properties. Novel nanoparticles have a potential value in achieving the above-mentioned ideal. In this work, a novel hybrid nanorod OPTS containing organophosphorus–titanium–silicon (P–Ti–Si) was synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction using tetraethyl orthosilicate, tetrabutyl titanate, and diphenylphosphinic acid as raw materials. Different tests were used to illustrate the structure of OPTS nanorods and demonstrate the formation mechanism. On the basis of the structural characteristic of OPTS, it was used to fabricate high-performance flame-retardant polycarbonate (PC). Experimental results confirmed that only 0.10 wt % of OPTS endowed PC with a UL-94 V-0 rating and a limiting oxygen index of 29.7%. Meanwhile, the flame-retardant PC with 0.10 wt % of OPTS had a higher tensile strength and a higher elongation at break than pure PC, correspondingly increased by 8.0 and 8.3%. Therefore, high-performance flame-retardant PC was prepared after the incorporation of a small amount of OPTS. The reasons for the flame retardance and excellent mechanical properties of PC/OPTS are discussed thoroughly.