TY - JOUR A1 - Gleuwitz, F. Robert A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Tenebrio molitor Beetle as a “Nonvegan” Adjuvant to Flame Retardants in Tannic Acid-Based Epoxy Thermosets N2 - Material solutions that meet both circular bioeconomy policies and high technical requirements have become a matter of particular interest. In this work, a prospectively abundant proteinrich waste resource for the manufacturing of flame-retardant epoxy biocomposites, as well as for the synthesis of biobased flame retardants or adjuvants, is introduced. Different biomass fillers sourced from the cultivation of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor are embedded in a bioepoxy resin cured with tannic acid and investigated regarding the fire performance of the thermosets. By means of spectroscopic and thermal analysis (attenuated total reflectance FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis-coupled FTIR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry), the influence of the biomass microparticles on the curing and thermal degradation behavior is evaluated. The final performance of the biocomposites is assessed based on fire testing methodology (limited oxygen index, UL-94, and cone calorimetry). Providing a high charring efficiency in the specific tannic acid-based epoxy matrix, the protein-rich adult beetle is further investigated in combination with commercial environmentally benign flame retardants in view of its potential as an adjuvant. The results highlight a char forming effect of nonvegan fillers in the presence of tannic acid, particularly during thermal decomposition, and point toward the potential of protein-based flame retardants from industrial insect rearing for future formulations. KW - Tannic acid KW - Flame retardancy KW - Sustainable KW - Epoxy resin KW - Insects PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00746 SN - 2168-0485 VL - 10 IS - 19 SP - 6313 EP - 6324 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-54845 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Gleuwitz, F. Robert A1 - Garfias González, Karla I. A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Non-vegan flame retardant biocomposites N2 - Products and by-products of the invertebrate and vertebrate farming, respectively, are shown to be promising bio-based flame retardant adjuvants in epoxy thermosets. While the addition of bone meal results in the formation of an inorganic shield, protein-based powders from insects provide an intumescent behavior under forced flaming conditions. Combining the latter with a common flame retardant such as ethylene diamine phosphate, the charring efficiency and self-extinguishing properties can be further enhanced. T2 - 18th European Meeting on Fire Retardant Polymeric Materials, FRPM21 CY - Budapest, Hungary DA - 29.08.2021 KW - Bio-based KW - Insects KW - Epoxy KW - Intumescence KW - Flame retardancy PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53219 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -