Graphene doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (G-ZnO) were prepared using modified hummer’s technique together with the ultrasonic method and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Different samples of epoxy resin nanocomposites reinforced with G-ZnO nanoparticles were prepared and were marked as F1 (without adding nanoparticles), F2 (1% w/w G-ZnO), and F3 (2% w/w G-ZnO) in combination of ≈ 56:18:18:8w/w% with epoxy resin/hardener, ammonium polyphosphate, boric acid, and Chitosan. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the epoxy nanocomposites was observed to decrease dramatically with the increasing G-ZnO nanoparticles. However, the LOI values increased significantly with the increase in wt % of G-ZnO nanoparticles. From the UL-94V data, it was confirmed that the F2 and F3 samples passed the flame test and were rated as V-0. The results obtained in the present work clearly revealed that the synthesized samples can be used as efficient materials in fire-retardant coating technology.

Keywords: G-ZnO nanoparticles, FESEM, XRD, TGA, Epoxy Nanocomposite