A novel bio-based charcoal-forming agent based on chitosan and phytate@Mg to improve the flame retardancy of poly(lactic acid)

A novel bio-based carbon forming agent (Mg@PA-CS) containing P and N elements was were synthesized using the complexation characteristics of chitosan (CS) and phytate (PA). The flame retardant behavior of poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/Mg@PA-CS/APP composites (addition of 20 wt% of different ratios of Mg@PA-CS and APP to polylactic acid composites) were investigated by the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test (UL-94), cone calorimetry test (CCT), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Due to the biphasic flame retardant and synergistic effect, since the 20 wt% flame retardant system (Mg@PA-CS:APP = 1:2), PLA composites passed the UL-94 test V-0 rating, reached 34% LOI value. The peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release rate (THR) were reduced to 1/2 of the pure PLA, char residue could be as high as 11.49% at 800°C. Moreover, the flame-retardant mechanism of PLA composites during thermal decomposition was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the coupling techniques of TGA linked with FT-IR (TG-FTIR).