This is the Way: An Evidence Based Route to Phytic-acid-based Flame Retardant Poly(lactide acid)
- Main message: This study provides an evidence-based route to flame retard poly (lactide acid) (PLA) with phytic acid (Phyt)-based flame retardants (FR). Phyt was prepared with lignin (Lig) and expandable graphite (EG). Three amine salts (arginine (Arg), piperazine (Pip), melamine (Mel)) were also synthesized with Phyt. Findings include UL 94 V0 classification, limited oxygen index (LOI) = 43.7 vol% and reduced total heat released (THR), while molecular weight (MW) was not affected. Combinations lead to the most effective FR.
Introduction: As demand for biobased polymers increases, biobased FRs remain scarce in the market. With 28 wt.% P, Phyt is promising to be a biobased FR, but Phyt efficiency as a FR needs to be improved. [1] Furthermore, as a strong acid, it esterifies and hydrolysis PLAs backbone. With the combinations proposed in this study, processability and MW in PLA compounds were untouched, while FR performance of Phyt was enhanced.
Experimental: Compounds analyzed inMain message: This study provides an evidence-based route to flame retard poly (lactide acid) (PLA) with phytic acid (Phyt)-based flame retardants (FR). Phyt was prepared with lignin (Lig) and expandable graphite (EG). Three amine salts (arginine (Arg), piperazine (Pip), melamine (Mel)) were also synthesized with Phyt. Findings include UL 94 V0 classification, limited oxygen index (LOI) = 43.7 vol% and reduced total heat released (THR), while molecular weight (MW) was not affected. Combinations lead to the most effective FR.
Introduction: As demand for biobased polymers increases, biobased FRs remain scarce in the market. With 28 wt.% P, Phyt is promising to be a biobased FR, but Phyt efficiency as a FR needs to be improved. [1] Furthermore, as a strong acid, it esterifies and hydrolysis PLAs backbone. With the combinations proposed in this study, processability and MW in PLA compounds were untouched, while FR performance of Phyt was enhanced.
Experimental: Compounds analyzed in this study were: PLA, PLA Lig, PLA EG, PLA PhytLig, PLA PhytEG, PLA Mel, PLA PhytArg, PLA PhytPip, PLA PhytMel, PLA PhytMel Lig and PLA PhytMel EG. Addition of Phyt based FR was 16.7 wt.%, Lig and EG 10wt.%. Compounds were processed with twin screw extrusion, injection molding and hot press. Analysis was done with size exclusion tomography, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile strength, cone calorimeter, UL 94, LOI and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) combined with Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Residues were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
Results and Discussion: To synthesize the FR, Lig and Phyt (solved in water) were mixed and dried. A solid material formed, which was grinded and then compounded with PLA. The same was done with EG. Phyt + Arg/Pip/Mel FR materials were each titrated to a pH of ~4.5, since this pH is known to be least harmful for the PLA backbone. For PhytMel a salt precipitated. PhytPip and PhytArg were dried and a resin-like structure was obtained, which was grinded to a powder. The molar mass distribution of PLA PhytArg (10,000 g/mol – 600,000 g/mol) is similar to PLAs ranging from 15,000 g/mol – 600,000 g/mol. MW distribution from highest to lowest was PLA > PLA PhytArg > PLA PhytMel > PLA PhytMel EG > PLA PhytMel Lig > PLA PhytEG > PLA PhytLig > PLA PhytPip. The reaction between Phyt and Arg/Mel prevents MW decomposition of PLA through a reaction of P acid and NH2 groups. Tensile strength declined to 35.9 MPA for PLA PhytMel and 32.1 MPA for PLA PhytArg, compared to 51.4 MPA for PLA. DSC analysis revealed TG was not affected for the FR compounds: Phyt Lig/EG/Arg/Mel, compared to PLA. PLA PhytMel crystallinity 𝐾∆𝐻𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 was 30%, PLA PhytArg crystallinity was 50%, compared to PLA 𝐾∆𝐻𝑐𝑐 was 46%. Melting peaks were not affected in PLA Phyt Arg/Mel.
Flammability investigations lead to results of LOI 25.8 vol%/ UL 94 V2 classification in PLA, PLA PhytArg LOI 43.7 vol%/ UL 94 V2, due to strong dripping as a cooling mode of action. [2] PLA PhytMel burned with intumescent char and LOI 38.2 vol%/ UL 94 V2 was measured. Due to strong melt dripping, PLA PhytPip reached UL 94 V0. TGA revealed increased residue for all FR compounds. When materials were combined in PLA PhytMel EG residue was maximized to 19.9 wt.% (600°C, 𝑁𝑁2 atmosphere). FTIR analysis revealed PO and PH stretching vibrations, indicating radical scavenging. Cone calorimeter investigations of PLA, PLA PhytPip and PLA PhytArg lead to a steep incline in HRR to peak heat release rate (pHRR). Values are provided in Table 1. PLA PhytMel containing compounds exhibited prolonged burning and protective layer. PLA PhytLig, PLA PhytEG, PLA Mel (pHRR >1000) were investigated but proved inferior to PLA PhytMel, PLA PhytMel Lig and PLA PhytMel EG. THR was reduced in all Phyt compounds. Intumescence was observed in all compounds except for PLA Lig, PLA PhytLig and PLA PhytMel Lig. PLA PhytMel EG proved as the most effective compound in fire testing with a firm, coherent and intumescent char structure. This study provides an understanding of Phyt as a FR. It systematically improves Phyts effectiveness and processability in PLA. This evidence…


| Autor*innen: | Jan Wagner |
|---|---|
| Koautor*innen: | Mateusz Dudziak, Jana Flakenhagen, H.-A. Reimann, Bernhard SchartelORCiD |
| Dokumenttyp: | Vortrag |
| Veröffentlichungsform: | Präsentation |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2025 |
| Organisationseinheit der BAM: | 6 Materialchemie |
| 6 Materialchemie / 6.3 Strukturanalytik | |
| 7 Bauwerkssicherheit | |
| 7 Bauwerkssicherheit / 7.5 Technische Eigenschaften von Polymerwerkstoffen | |
| DDC-Klassifikation: | Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Ingenieurbau |
| Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik | |
| Freie Schlagwörter: | Intumescence; Phosphorous flame retardant; Phytic acid; Polylactide acid |
| Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM: | Infrastruktur |
| Infrastruktur / Fire Science | |
| Umwelt | |
| Umwelt / Circular Economy | |
| Veranstaltung: | 20th European Meeting on Fire Retardant Polymeric Materials (FRPM2025) |
| Veranstaltungsort: | Madrid, Spain |
| Beginndatum der Veranstaltung: | 03.06.2025 |
| Enddatum der Veranstaltung: | 06.06.2025 |
| Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
| Datum der Freischaltung: | 17.06.2025 |
| Referierte Publikation: | Nein |
| Eingeladener Vortrag (wissenschaftliche Konferenzen): | Nein |

