Synergistic effect of green phosphorus-containing bio-based material and two-dimensional layered material composite on flame-retardant property of polyvinyl alcohol

A novel environment-friendly and efficient flame retardant (phytic acid [PA] - layered double hydroxide [LDH]) has been synthesized to enhance the flame retardancy of PVA. PA-LDH possesses better char formation ability with a high char residue of 68.7 wt% at 600 °C. Peak release rate (pHRR) and heat release capacity (HRC) values of PVA/PA-LDH15% are 180 W/g and 310 J/g-K, with the descent of 69.4% and 31.7%, respectively. The burning rate of PVA/PA-LDH decreased visibly, presented that higher fire retardancy can be obtained for PVA/PA-LDH. It is worth noting that PA-LDH could restrain the melt-dripping of PVA during the combustion process, which is of great significance in fire-spread control. Furthermore, the synergistic flame-retardant mechanism of phosphorus-contained PA and inorganic LDH is proposed based on microscopic analysis on char residues. In addition, PVA/PA-LDH composites exhibit good mechanical properties, the green flame retardant is of considerable significance to the flame-retardant treatment of polymers.