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Main message: Sustainability, or in other words, exploiting environmental conservation for the economic welfare and prosperity for all, would revolutionise the plastics industry were it to become predominant practice as a linear, fossil-fuel–based economy is switched to a carbon circular economy. Food for though is given by dint of a critical overview of the current trends in sustainable flame-retardant polymeric materials.
Introduction:
Transforming the plastics industry into a carbon circular economy over the next 30 years requires an immediate revolution entailing the development of cutting-edge materials and the planning of future industrial production plants. Hence, the innovative field of flame-retardant polymeric materials should lend its strength to drive this challenge. Visionary solutions are proposed to inspire us, while the implementation of economically feasible concepts can take us forward into the future.
Experimental The synthesis, processing, polymer analysis, thermal analysis, and investigation of fire behaviour from our own research are performed according to the state of the art, mostly in accordance with the pertinent ISO standards. Indeed, some of our equipment is part of the accredited lab; for the other methods we fulfil equivalent quality standards in terms of maintenance, calibration, participation in round robins, etc. Work steps such as the synthesis or preparation of new materials are usually outsourced or done with partners that have the relevant core competence. The talk also presents examples from other groups whose experimental is described in the corresponding scientific papers.
Results and Discussion An overview of current trends towards producing sustainable, flame-retardant polymeric materials is presented, using examples from the literature and by sketching our own projects performed in recent years. The examples are structured along a common theme leading from the use of old and new natural materials with some intrinsic flame retardancy, via flame-retardant biopolymers and biocomposites, to using renewable sources for flame retardants with the objective of exploiting natural sources available as industrial waste streams. Natural flame retardants and adjuvants are highlighted, although the status of most may be assessed as merely motivating our vision. Nevertheless, there are natural material streams finding their way into polymer mass production as fillers, adjuvants, polymers, or renewable educt sources. Natural substances originating from industrial waste streams open the door to sustainable solutions, because they are often available at low cost and avoid competition for land with farming or virgin forests. Aside from this main topic, remarks will address the recycling of flame-retarded polymeric materials; vitrimers are mentioned as a potential material for recyclable thermosets. At the end of the day, only convincing property profiles will prevail both for exploiting renewable sources and circular design, including cost effectiveness, sufficient availability, consistent quality, processibility, mechanical properties, and flame retardancy. However, sustainability must not be merely tolerated as an additional demand, but should instead be recognized as a solution, because sustainability aspires to ensure our economic welfare now and in the future.
Acknowledgement:
The examples shown from own project were supported by funding grants: BMBF WTZ: 01DN16040, DFG Scha 730/19-1, VW-Stiftung: Experiment No: 97437, DFG Scha 730/20-1, BMBF KMU Innovativ 031B1289B.
Thermoplastic starch polymer blends as biodegradable materials are well known and used mainly as packaging material. In order to exploit new application fields for these materials, additional properties such as flame retardancy or increased mechanical strength are required. This work focuses on the flammability and fire behavior of a thermoplastic starch/polyester blend reinforced with natural fibers derived from Mexican industry processes wastes, such as keratin fibers from the tannery industry or coconut fibers[1]. Different fiber contents as well as combinations of varying contents of aluminum trihydroxide, expandable graphite or ammonium polyphosphate were tested in LOI, UL94, cone calorimeter and TG-FTIR in order to investigate and assess the concentration dependence of the fibers and flame retardants as well as synergistic effects between both components. In combination with ammonium polyphosphate, the coconut fibers induce a synergistic effect by reinforcing the char residue and creating a more stable heat barrier during forced flaming combustion in the cone calorimeter. Synergism is also observed in the oxygen test. The recycling of otherwise wasted material is a true challenge in material development, thus this work is a first step in the direction of sustainable and biodegradable materials.
The construction sector generally shows a great contribution to socio-economic development in Africa, and has particularly enhanced the continent's employment sector over the last few years. The African concrete construction sector is quite different when compared to its European and/or American counterparts. Modem infrastructural development exists in many urban cities in Africa, but this is at variance with rural areas, which tend to have little or no basic amenities such as sound road networks, solid and affordable shelter, and potable water. A large percentage of the construction activities are observed through the informal construction sector which mainly constitutes of cheap labour. This paper gives a basic introduction into the necessities for infrastructural development in Africa with focus on the construction sector. The paper addresses the practised construction activities based on the informal construction sector as well as suggests sustainable construction approaches sufficient for the African rural communities to benefit from the available economy. A better understanding of this sector is required which can help improve the existing methods of construction rather than adopt the construction techniques observed from the developed countries.
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are largely used all over the world. The leading SCMs are fly ash (FA) and slag. However, such materials originate from industries that are not well established in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Therefore, it becomes extremely challenging and expensive to build up sustainable cement and concrete. For SSA, agriculture is one of the leading economic sectors. Agricultural by-products such as rice husk ash (RHA), can be a potential binder material beneficial for use in a cementitious system. RHA combined with limestone filler (LSF) is an option that can be practised for rice producing countries in Africa.
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.