Fire-safe epoxy composite realized by MXenes based nanostructure with vertically arrayed MOFs derived from interfacial assembly strategy

[Display omitted] •Vertically aligned nanostructure of MX@MOF-B is designed via interfacial assembly.•Low addition of MX@MOF-B leads to the marked inhibitions in heat and smoke releases.•Predominant reductions in CO, HCN, NO yields are discerned by loading MX@MOF-B.•Contrast with reported works implies the excellence of MX@MOF-B in flame retardant. In this contribution, Ni-based metal organic frameworks (Ni-MOF) nanosheets with high specific surface area are grown on transition metals carbides (MXenes, denoted as MX) surface via vertical alignment, gestating the flame retardant of MX@MOF-B. With the addition of 2.0 wt% MX@MOF-B, the peak heat release rate, peak smoke production rate, peak CO production rate, peak CO2 production rate are reduced by 42.5 %, 26.7 %, 37.8 %, 54.9 %, while the peak concentrations of C2H6, CH4, HCN, NO, N2O are impaired by 91.3 %, 94.3 %, 89.6 %, 90.3 %, 60.9 %, suggesting the enhanced fire safety. Meantime, the fire performance index is elevated by 83.0 % and fire growth index is reduced by 37.2 %, demonstrating the promoted fire safety. Of note, the using of MX@MOF-B induces the promotion of 787.1 % in char yield after combustion, which shows higher graphitized degree and thus enables better protection for basal matrix. Flame retardation contrast with previous works also manifests the strength of MX@MOF-B in hindering the heat release and toxicants emission. This work offers a new paradigm for forging fire-safe polymer composites with low toxicity.