A lignin‐based flame retardant for improving fire behavior and biodegradation performance of polybutylene succinate

• Published in: Polymers for advanced technologies 2018-12, Vol.29 (12), p.3142-3150
• Main Authors: Chen, Si, Lin, Shichao, Hu, Yan, Ma, Meng, Shi, Yanqin, Liu, Junding, Zhu, Feng, Wang, Xu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biodegradability; Biodegradable materials; Biodegradation; biodegradation rate; Enthalpy; flame retardancy; Flame retardants; Flammability; Heat release rate; Lignin; polybutylene succinate; Weight loss; Weight reduction
• ISSN: 1042-7147; 1099-1581
• DOI: 10.1002/pat.4436

The fast biodegradation rate and inflammability of polybutylene succinate (PBS) severely restrict its applications in many areas. To solve the above problems and broaden its applications, herein, a halogen‐free flame retardant (CP‐lignin) based on lignin was successfully synthesized. After adding 30 wt% CP‐lignin into PBS, the peak heat release rate and total heat release of PBS are remarkably reduced by 27 and 31%, respectively. Additionally, the higher char yield was beneficial to improving the flame retardant properties of PBS. After adding 10 wt% CP‐lignin, the ratio of weight loss is reduced by about 33%, and the ratio of weight loss is decreased gradually as the CP‐lignin loading increases. This research provides a reasonably way to make full use of the lignin and to broaden the application of PBS. At the same time, it also provides a new idea for the production and preparation of completely biodegradable materials.