TY - JOUR A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Sanchez-Olivares, G. A1 - Rockel, Daniel A1 - Maldonado-Santoyo, M. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Waste not, want not: The use of leather waste in flame retarded EVA N2 - Leather is among the most ancient, widely used materials worldwide. Industrial-scale leather production produces large quantities of organic waste attained during shaving and buffing steps during processing. In this study, leather wastes (LW) are used as fillers in flame retarded polymer composites. LW is investigated as a multifunctional bio-filler that enhances the fire performance of flame retarded poly(ethylene–vinyl acetate) (EVA) containing phosphorus flame retardants (P-FRs) ammonium polyphosphate (APP) or a melamine-encapsulated APP (eAPP). Using LW from tanneries as adjuvants to enhance P-FRs in EVA reduces industrial wastes that otherwise require costly waste management solutions. Materials are characterized multi-methodically via mechanical tests, electron microscopy, rheology, thermogravimetric analysis, evolved gas analysis, and condensed phase FTIR, also reaction-to-small-flames and cone calorimeter tests. EVA containing 10 wt-% LW and 20 wt-% P-FRs achieve 20% reductions in fire loads versus EVA, and up to 10% reduction in effective heats of combustion versus EVA with equal (30 wt-%) P-FR loadings. Enhanced char stabilization of EVA composites with LW and P-FRs lowered peaks of heat release rates up to 53% compared to EVA, and up to 40% compared to equal P-FRs loadings. Synergisms between LW and P-FRs in EVA are quantified. A chemical decomposition mechanism is proposed. KW - Leather waste KW - Tannery industry KW - EVA KW - Fire protection KW - Flame retardancy KW - Charring PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-532977 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.110100 SN - 0264-1275 VL - 210 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-53297 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rockel, Daniel A1 - Sanchez Olivares, G. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Improving the Flame Retardancy of Aluminium Trihydroxide in Thermoplastic Starch Biocomposites Using Waste Fibers and Silicon-Based Synergists N2 - The synergistic behavior of different silicon compounds is investigated in flame retardant biocomposites with aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) as the main flame retardant. The paper shows a new approach towards sustainable biocomposites through the implementation of thermoplastic starch (TPS), leather fibers from industrial waste streams, and non-hazardous flame retardants and synergists. In these multicomponent systems, the different components address different modes of action in the fire scenario. When ATH is partially substituted by glass frits or layered silicates, fire performance is enhanced without changing the total amount of filler in the polymer. In a biocomposite with 25 phr of fiber and 90 phr of ATH, substituting 5 phr of ATH for layered silicates increased the LOI from 31.5 vol % to 34.8 vol %, decreased the peak of heat release by 20%, and increased the UL 94 rating from V-1 to V-0. KW - Biocomposites KW - Sustainability KW - Waste streams KW - Flame retardancy KW - Synergism KW - Modes of action PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-605711 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssusresmgt.4c00053 SN - 2837-1445 VL - 1 IS - 6 SP - 1131 EP - 1145 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-60571 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sanchez Olivares, G. A1 - Battig, Alexander A1 - Goller, Sebastian M. A1 - Rockel, Daniel A1 - Ramirez Gonzáles, V. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Imparting Fire Retardancy and Smoke Suppression to Leather during Tanning Processes N2 - Leather is considered a luxury good when used in seating and upholstery. To improve safety, flame retardancy in leather is usually achieved through various finishing processes such as spray or roller coating. These treatments require processing steps that cost time and are laborintensive. One avenue to achieving flame retardancy in leather is to add flame retardants during the tanning process. However, the influence on flame retardancy exerted by specific intumescent additives specifically added during leather tanning has yet to be investigated. This work explores the roles played by intumescent additive compounds in flame retarding leather when they are added during tanning instead of applied as a coating. Via a systematic investigation of various compound mixtures, the flame retardant effects in the condensed and the gas phases are elucidated. The results show a strong impact of melamine in the gas phase and of polyphosphates in the condensed phase. Their impact was quantified in fire and smoke analysis, showing a 14% reduction in the peak of heat release rate, strongly reduced burning lengths, and a 20% reduction in total smoke release compared to nontreated leather. These results illuminate the key role played by specific compounds in the flame retardancy of leather, particularly when they are added specifically during the tanning process instead of being applied as a coating. This method has great potential to reduce processing steps, lower costs, and improve material safety. KW - Leather KW - Fire protection KW - Intumescent additives KW - Smoke suppression PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-564777 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c05633 SN - 2470-1343 VL - 7 IS - 48 SP - 44156 EP - 44169 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-56477 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rockel, Daniel A1 - Sanchez Olivares, G. A1 - Calderas, F. A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - Two heads are better than one: Aluminum trihydroxide / phosphorous flame retardant combination in natural waste fiber biocomposites N2 - Future polymeric materials that replace fossil fuel-based engineering plastics demand the use of renewable sources as well as the implementation of key properties such as flame retardancy, processing, and mechanical properties. This study focuses on the combination of aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) and phosphorus-based flame retardants in compositable thermoplastic starch reinforced with sustainable multifunctional leather waste fibers. The flame retardants engender different flame-retardant modes of action, improving overall performance when combined. The partial substitution of ATH with phosphorous flame retardant allowed a reduction in flame retardant loading. Materials with 90 phr of ATH reached a limiting oxygen index of 31.5 vol.-% and a UL-94 rating of V-1, whereas the combination of 73 phr ATH and 7 phr of diphenyl ocytyl phosphate achieved a V-0 rating and a slightly reduced peak of heat release rate. This study demonstrates the potential of multicomponent systems implementing waste fiber–reinforced biocomposites. KW - Biocomposites KW - Flame retardancy KW - Phosphorous flame retardants KW - Synergism KW - Sustainability PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-639084 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2025.108938 SN - 0142-9418 SN - 1873-2348 VL - 150 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-63908 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wagner, Jan A1 - Dudziak, Mateusz A1 - Falkenhagen, Jana A1 - Rockel, Daniel A1 - Reimann, H.-A A1 - Schartel, Bernhard T1 - This is the way: An evidence based route to phytic-acid–based flame retardant poly(lactide acid) N2 - A systematic sequence of materials was investigated to develop phytic-acid (Phyt)–based flame retarded poly (lactide acid) (PLA), while factoring in molecular weight (MW), crystallinity and mechanical properties. Synergistic approaches were developed based on combinations with lignin and expandable graphite (EG), as well as by applying different Phyt salts of melamine (Mel), piperazine (Pip), and arginine (Arg). Compounds were twin screw extruded, injection molded, hot pressed and investigated with thermal analysis, size exclusion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, tensile testing, limited oxygen index (LOI), UL 94, cone calorimeter, and scanning electron microscope. 16.7 wt.% flame retardant (FR) slightly enhances crystallization while MW remains unchanged in PLA Phyt Arg and PLA Phyt Mel. LOI was improved to 43.7 vol.% for PLA Phyt Arg, UL 94 V0 achieved for PLA Phyt Pip. Cone calorimeter results show total heat evolved reduced by 14 %, maximum average rate of heat emission 43 % lower, and peak heat release rate reduced by 50 % for PLA Phyt Mel. Phyt Mel combined with EG increased the char yield of PLA to 20 wt.% and 15.5 wt.% at 600 and 900 ◦C, respectively. Phyt is exploited to enhance char yield, stabilize the intumescent char, and lower the apparent effective heat of combustion. The combination of Phyt Mel and EG was proposed as an efficient FR for PLA via an evidence based developing route. KW - Polylactide acid KW - Intumescent flame retardant KW - Phosphorous flame retardant KW - Phytic acid KW - Expandable graphite KW - Melamine PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626395 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2025.111242 SN - 1873-2321 SN - 0141-3910 VL - 234 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-62639 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -