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Microcage flame retardants with complete recyclability and durability via reversible interfacial locking engineering.
Furong Zeng1, Lei He1, Jianwen Ma1
1School of Chemical Engineering, The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, No. 24, South Section 1, Yihuan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610064, China. haibor7@163.com.
Materials Horizons
|March 8, 2024
Summary
New flame retardants are engineered using reversible microcages for infinite chemical recyclability and durability. This breakthrough supports a circular economy by enabling material reuse and reducing environmental impact.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Flame retardants are crucial for material safety but often hinder circular economy goals due to poor recyclability.
- Developing sustainable and recyclable flame retardants is essential for environmental protection and resource management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer novel, infinitely chemically recyclable, and durable flame retardants.
- To demonstrate a scalable strategy for creating flame retardants that support a circular material economy.
Main Methods:
- Hierarchical assembly of phosphoric acid and Cu2+ monomers into reversible microcages.
- Utilizing dynamic reversible assembly networks and pH adjustment for monomer dissociation and recovery.
- Integrating microcages with matrix surfaces via in situ interfacial locking structures.
Main Results:
- Achieved remarkable recovery rates of 92% for phosphoric acid and 96.2% for Cu2+ monomers.
- Demonstrated exceptional flame-retardant efficiency and prolonged durability under hydrothermal aging.
- Showcased broad applicability across various polymers like polyurethane, epoxy resin, and polycarbonate.
Conclusions:
- Developed a novel, scalable chemical platform using reversible interfacial locking for infinitely recyclable flame retardants.
- The engineered microcages offer a sustainable solution for flame retardancy, enhancing material durability and recyclability.
- This approach facilitates the transition towards a circular material economy in the polymer industry.
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