ABSTRACT
Owing to their unique layered structure and fascinating properties, two-dimensional nanomaterials have been widely applied to reduce the fire risk of polymer (nano)composites through the coupling of barrier, catalysis and carbonization effects. However, there are still several challenges of two-dimensional nanomaterials for fire-safe polymers: (1) how to obtain a uniform dispersion of two-dimensional nanomaterials within polymers; (2) how to assess the life cycle of fire-safe two-dimensional nanomaterial/polymer composites; and (3) how to reduce expenses of scalable fabrication of fire-safe two-dimensional nanomaterial/polymer composites. Although these challenges restrict the commercialization of fire-safe two-dimensional nanomaterial/polymer composites, the combination of two-dimensional nanomaterials with traditional flame retardants is still considered as the most promising flame retardant technology and has been commercialized in several fire-safe products. This chapter will prospect the future development trend of fire-safe two-dimensional nanomaterial/polymer composites and give a brief comment on opportunities and challenges for their future development.
