Fire retardants biodegradability

Film or sheet generally function as supports for other materials, as barriers or covers such as packaging, as insulation, or as materials of constmction. The uses depend on the unique combination of properties of the specific resins or plastic materials chosen. When multilayer films or sheets are made, the product properties can be varied to meet almost any need. Further modification of properties can be achieved by use of such additives or modifiers as plasticizers (qv), antistatic agents (qv), fire retardants, sHp agents, uv and thermal stabilizers, dyes (qv) or pigments (qv), and biodegradable activators. 

The use of n-paraffins recovered include octane value enhancement of gasoline, solvents and raw materials for biodegradable detergents, fire retardants, plasticizers, alcohol, fatty acids, synthetic proteins, lube oil additives, and a-olefins. A detailed discussion on n-paraffin separation processes is available (1). 

Many workers have used PyMS to study the structures of polymers, both natural and artificial. Understanding the performance of polymers in terms of cohesion and substrate adhesion is of immense commercial significance in the paint and adhesive industries. Similarly, the behavior of polymers under stress and when exposed to external factors such as ultraviolet light has been extensively studied by PyMS and is useful in the development of novel materials that have desirable properties, e.g., fire-retardant coatings and biodegradable fibers. There is much interest in polyhydroxyalkanoates as potentially biodegradable plastics, and PyMS has been a principal method used to study thermal degradation profiles of this material. Similarly, in forensic science, PyMS has been used to analyze fibers and to help match samples of automotive finishes to paint chips found at crime scenes. 

Jana, T. Roy, B.C. Maiti, S. Biodegradable film 7. Modification of the biodegradable film for fire retardancy. Polym. Degrad. Stabil. 2000, 69, 79-82. 

Montmorillonite (MMT), a smectite clay, is probably the most extensively studied nanomaterial in terms of mechanical, thermal, fire retardant or crystallization behavior of polylactide, especially when these nanoparticles are organically modified allowing the achievement of intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites.These nanocomposites show enhanced properties as compared to microcomposites and pristine polymer. However, biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation of PLA in the presence of nanoclays has been investigated to a small extent. 

In order to enhance the property of the HMA, some proper additives are used. Grigat Ernst et al. [91] developed a kind of PEA-based biodegradable HMA. The ester segments of the PEA used consist of oligo-esters with Mn=800- 1300 and 2 COOH end-groups obtained by melt condensation of diols with adipic acid and the amide segments are preferably obtained by reaction of these COOH end-groups with hexamethylene diisocyanate. The ordinary additives such as plasticizers, fire retardants, and/or fillers were mixed into the system. 

Approaches to reduce evaporation and degradation of plasticizers have been developed, with the aim of formulating long-lasting flexible plastics and minimizing the ultimate environmental impact of these chemicals. Also, fire-retardant plasticizers and plasticizers for use in biodegradable plastics have been developed (2). 

Biodegradable Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Fire Retardants via Emulsifier-free Emulsion Polymerization... 

The present review of nanocomposites synthesized by in situ polymerization highlights an increasing number of studies on emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. In our laboratory, using the in situ emulsifier-free emulsion technique, we have prepared a number of polymer nanoparticles and nanocomposites, such as PMMA and PAN nanoparticles, PEHA-SS nanocomposite used for biodegradable superabsorbents, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), PMMA-MMT, PBA SS, PBMA SS-Mg(OH)2 nanocomposites used for fire retardants, PAN SS used as a water absorbent, poly(EHA-co-AA)-SS nanocomposite to act as a PSA in transdermal drug delivery (TDD) and poly(AA-co-AM)-MBA nanohydrogel for colon-specific drug delivery. ... 

In this chapter, detailed studies on the synthesis, particularly, of PBA-SS nanocomposite via the in situ emulsifier-free emulsion technique are reported along with their properties such as thermal, fire retardancy and biodegradability. 

PBA-SS nanocomposites were synthesized by a novel, cost-effective, unconventional emulsifier-free emulsion technique. The XRD results showed a disordered layer structure due to intercalation of polymer into the layered silicate. These composites were further characterized by TGA, TEM and their burning rates and exhibited improved properties of thermal stability with good fire retardant properties. It is found that the fire retardant nanocomposites have average biodegradability and have promising future prospects. 

The more heavily chlorinated polycyclic compounds are commercially valuable because of their stability, especially at high temperatures, good hydraulic and electrical properties, and fire resistance. The brominated analogues have similar properties, but are mainly used because of their fire retardant characteristics. This stability is associated with the less desirable aspects of their environmental behaviour, and together with their physical properties can lead to accumulation in fatty tissues, low environmental mobility, and resistance to degradation, particularly biodegradation. 

With respect to hotmelts, biobased and biodegradable (Guo et al., 2010) types are available on the market, developed primarily for paper and cardboard. Table 1.8 gives an overview of hotmelts tested on textiles. Some were functionalised towards antimicrobial behavior and fire resistance (De Vilder et al., 2013). On cotton, good flame retardancy was obtained for the FR-functionalized Unirez using Eco-flam PU-228... 

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