Investigation on Thermal Performance and Flame Retardant Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystals Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites

The need for advanced, sustainable materials with improvement for flame resistance is critical in industries to be applied in such for construction and electronics. The epoxy has been widely used for these industries. While epoxy resin is valued for its durability, it has drawbacks due to flammability and low thermal stability. This effect on the final processing and application. This research addresses to overcome these limitations by incorporating nanocellulose, a renewable and biodegradable polymer derived from natural cellulose, to enhance the flame retardancy and thermal performance of epoxy compounds. Nanocellulose (CNC) was extracted through different steps such extractives removal, bleaching, mercerization and acid hydrolysis. This CNC was incorporated into epoxy with varying concentration (0.5% and 1.0%). After fabrication into epoxy composites, the samples were evaluated for flammability test using cone calorimetry and thermal stability test by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Preliminary results are promising, with the addition of 0.5% CNC/epoxy composite demonstrating a significant 17% reduction in peak heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release rate (HRR), indicating substantial improvements in flame resistance without compromising the material's structural integrity. This research confirms the potential of nanocellulose as a high-performance and greener materials that can withstand the demands of fire-sensitive environments.