A novel approach for improving the flame retardancy, smoke suppression and mechanical properties of epoxy resins (EPs) has been proposed by incorporating functionalized hollow mesoporous silica microcapsules (SHP) loaded with phosphorous silane flame retardants (SCA) and coated with polydopamine (PDA) and transition metals. The proposed approach involves a multi-level structure that combines several mechanisms to enhance the flame-retardant properties of EP. The physical barrier provided by silica serves to impede heat and mass transfer during combustion, while the catalytic carbonization effect of phosphorus and transition metals promotes the formation of a protective char layer, which acts as a barrier to further flame propagation. Incorporating a low loading amount of 3 wt% SHP into the epoxy matrix resulted in EP/SHP-3 composites with significantly improved flame retardancy, as evidenced by a limiting oxygen index of 31.5% and a V-1 rating, in contrast to the values obtained for unmodified EP, which were 23.8% and no rating, respectively. In addition, cone calorimeter test (CCT) results indicated that the total heat release, peak heat release rate and total smoke production of EP/SHP-3 decreased by 18.2%, 25.2% and 18.4%, respectively. Moreover, the improved interfacial compatibility facilitated by polydopamine assists in the dispersion and compatibility of the SHP with the epoxy matrix, leading to better mechanical properties. Herein, the addition of 1 wt% SHP to EP significantly improved its mechanical performance, with a 16.7% increase in tensile strength and a 19.2% increase in impact strength. The design of the multi-level structural approach has the potential to provide new ideas for the simultaneous improvement of fire safety as well as mechanical properties of polymers.

提出了一种提高环氧树脂（EP）阻燃性、抑烟性和机械性能的新方法，通过结合负载磷硅烷阻燃剂（SCA）并涂有聚多巴胺（PDA）的功能化中空介孔二氧化硅微胶囊（SHP）和过渡金属。所提出的方法涉及一种多层结构，该结构结合了多种机制来增强 EP 的阻燃性能。二氧化硅提供的物理屏障用于阻碍燃烧过程中的热量和质量传递，而磷和过渡金属的催化碳化作用则促进保护性炭层的形成，该保护性炭层充当进一步火焰传播的屏障。将 3 wt% SHP 的低负载量加入到环氧树脂基体中，可使 EP/SHP-3 复合材料的阻燃性显着提高，与数值相比，极限氧指数为 31.5%，V-1 等级即可证明这一点对于未修改的 EP，分别为 23.8% 和无评级。此外，锥形量热仪测试（CCT）结果表明EP/SHP-3的总放热量、峰值放热量和总发烟量分别降低了18.2%、25.2%和18.4%。此外，聚多巴胺促进的界面相容性改善有助于 SHP 与环氧基质的分散和相容性，从而获得更好的机械性能。其中，在EP中添加1wt%的SHP显着改善了其机械性能，拉伸强度提高了16.7%，冲击强度提高了19.2%。多层次结构方法的设计有可能为同时提高聚合物的消防安全和机械性能提供新思路。