Bio-based flame retardants: When nature meets fire protection

Fire retardancy of polymeric materials is a subject of major preoccupation due to the need to minimize fire risk and meet fire safety requirements. Numerous efficient conventional flame retardants based on halogen, mineral, and other compounds have been developed. However, some of these compounds, particularly halogen flame retardants, are harmful to our health and the environment, and their use has been restricted. In addition, the increasing concern about the reduction of the ecological footprint of materials, has encouraged the development of new plastics and additives made from renewable resources. As a result, renewed interest is emerging for the development of sustainable solutions for flame retardants for polymeric materials. This paper focuses on the identification of biomass compounds that have a potential as flame retardants for polymers due to their high availability and inherent properties. The last section of this paper explores the recent progress in flame retardant systems, based on the use of renewable products, which constitutes a promising approach to provide materials with improved fire resistance.