Two heads are better than one: Aluminum trihydroxide / phosphorous flame retardant combination in natural waste fiber biocomposites

Future polymeric materials that replace fossil fuel-based engineering plastics demand the use of renewable sources as well as the implementation of key properties such as flame retardancy, processing, and mechanical properties. This study focuses on the combination of aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Daniel Rockel, Guadalupe Sanchez-Olivares, Fausto Calderas, Bernhard Schartel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Polymer Testing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941825002521
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Future polymeric materials that replace fossil fuel-based engineering plastics demand the use of renewable sources as well as the implementation of key properties such as flame retardancy, processing, and mechanical properties. This study focuses on the combination of aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) and phosphorus-based flame retardants in compositable thermoplastic starch reinforced with sustainable multifunctional leather waste fibers. The flame retardants engender different flame-retardant modes of action, improving overall performance when combined. The partial substitution of ATH with phosphorous flame retardant allowed a reduction in flame retardant loading. Materials with 90 phr of ATH reached a limiting oxygen index of 31.5 vol.-% and a UL-94 rating of V-1, whereas the combination of 73 phr ATH and 7 phr of diphenyl ocytyl phosphate achieved a V-0 rating and a slightly reduced peak of heat release rate. This study demonstrates the potential of multicomponent systems implementing waste fiber–reinforced biocomposites.
ISSN:1873-2348