In order to study the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the flame retardancy of carbon \nfiber (CF)/epoxy resin (EP) composites, CF/EP and CNTs/CF/EP composites were prepared by \nsolution blending. The flame retardancy and thermal stability were studied by cone calorimetry and \nthermogravimetric analysis. It was found that CNTs and CF had a certain synergistic effect on \nimproving flame retardancy and thermal stability of EP. The peak heat release rate of F7N7, which \nrepresents the EP composites with 0.7 wt % CF and 0.7 wt % CNTs, was minimal. The total smoke \nproduction of F5N5 which represents the EP composites with 0.5 wt % CF and 0.5 wt % CNTs was \nthe smallest, which was decreased by 43.04% more than the EP. The initial decomposition \ntemperature of F7N7 was about 14 degreeC higher than that of F7, and the mass loss at Tmax was greatly \nreduced. The apparent activation energy of F7N7 is 2.7 kJ.mol^-1 more than EP. Finally, the tensile \nand flexural strength of the composites were also improved, so it could be applied to a high\nperformance matrix of CF/EP composites, which are usually used as the advanced composites in\nthe aerospace field.
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