Curcumin derivative intercalated expandable graphite: Imparting flame retardancy, anti-dripping and smoke suppression for polylactic acid composites
Wei Tan, Yin Tian, Chunlong Zuo, Yongli Zhang, Xiaoyu Liu, Ziyin Ye, Lu Bai, Yuanlin Ren, Xiaohui Liu
Abstract
With the depletion of petrochemical resources and the escalating severity of white pollution, replacing petrochemical resources with bio-based resources aligns with sustainable development strategy. In this work, a novel biomass flame retardant (PCDAC) derived from curcumin was intercalated into expandable graphite (EG) to construct an intrinsically intumescent flame retardant system (EG@PCDAC), which was then melt blended with polylactic acid (PLA) to fabricate flame retardant, anti-dripping and smoke suppressive PLA composite (PLA/EG@PCDAC). The residual char of PLA/EG@PCDAC was 14.27 wt% under N 2 atmosphere, while reaching UL-94 V–0 rating. Furthermore, the peak heat release rate and total heat release of PLA/EG@PCDAC were reduced by 46.95 % and 19.02 % compared with original PLA, and the total smoke production and peak smoke production rate also decreased by 20.74 % and 72.09 %, respectively. This work offered green and feasible inspiration for exploring biomass flame retardants and renewable PLA-based functional materials. • A biomass flame retardant (PCDAC) was synthesized using curcumin as backbone. • PCDAC intercalated into EG for construction of intumescent flame retardant system. • Flame-retardant, anti-dripping and smoke suppression PLA composite were prepared. • The preparation process was cost-effective and suitable for large-scale operation.