A review of sustainable and environment-friendly flame retardants used in plastics. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mensah, Rhoda Afriyie; Shanmugam, Vigneshwaran; Narayanan, Sreenivasan; Renner, Juliana Sally; Babu, Karthik; Neisiany, Rasoul Esmaeely; Försth, Michael; Sas, Gabriel; Das, Oisik
• Is Part Of: Polymer testing. Volume 108(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Sustainability -- Flame retardants -- Fire safety -- Plastics -- Environmental safety; Polymers -- Testing -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Tests -- Périodiques; 620.1920287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2022.107511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9418

Abstract

Abstract: The progressive transition from conventional structural designs to lightweight and more complex structures has led to the increase in the quantity of plastic materials in buildings. However, plastics have a major flaw: their low fire performance characterised by shorter ignition times and higher heat release rates. This has necessitated the incorporation of flame retardants (FRs) in plastics. Nevertheless, not all FRs are environmentally safe, hence, there is an urgent need for the development of sustainable biobased FRs that reduce environmental footprints while simultaneously improving the fire performance of plastics. This article addresses the negative connotation of FRs and reviews the most extensively used biobased FRs in plastics, their preparation (synthesis) and mode of application, performance evaluation as well as the leaching of FRs, and environmental fate. Some interesting observations in the review are the reduction of ignition times of plastics by the addition of FRs due to the rapid volatilisation of samples. In addition, the leaching rate of FRs is found to be higher in finer particles (micro and nanoparticles) compared to larger-sized ones and has the potential to dissolve in humic matter hence endangering the lives of humans and animals. Highlights: The quantity of plastics in structures has increased drastically. Sustainable flame retardants are required for fire treatments of plastics. Synthesis and incorporation methods of FR's in plastics affect the performance. Reduction of ignition time by flame retardant is due to rapid volatilisation. Leaching is higher in finer plastic particles than larger ones.