Metal-Organic Frameworks as Flame-Retardant Materials for Polymers

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a novel class of nanostructured materials with multiple dimensions and intrinsic properties, enabling their versatility in various applications. They exhibit high porosity, large surface area, ease of functionalization, and suitable tailorability. These properties make MOFs exceptional nanofillers for creating high-performance multifunctional composites. Moreover, MOFs possess flame retardant qualities that can be enhanced by modifying metal ions or adding flame retardant components to their ligands. As such, recent research efforts on the flame-retardant effects and mechanisms of MOFs when incorporated into different polymers have intensified. This chapter reviews the use of MOFs and their hybrids as non-halogenated flame retardants (FRs). It also summarizes the synthesis and properties of MOFs and their impact on the flame retardancy and smoke suppression of various polymers. The chapter concludes with the challenges and future prospects of these materials as FRs.