Empowering the flame retardancy and adhesion for various substrates using renewable feedstock

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Green Chemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Developing sustainable, bio-based adhesives is crucial for reducing reliance on petroleum-based materials.
• Flame retardant properties are essential for safety in many adhesive applications.
• Valorizing agricultural waste like orange peel offers an eco-friendly material source.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel, bio-based flame retardant adhesive using orange peel waste (OPW) and Acacia gum (AG).
• To evaluate the adhesive properties, mechanical strength, and flame retardancy of the synthesized P@OPW/AG adhesive.
• To demonstrate a green and simple strategy for creating high-performance, fire-safe composites.

Main Methods:

• Orange peel waste (OPW) and Acacia gum (AG) were phosphorylated at 140°C to create the P@OPW/AG adhesive.
• The adhesive's tensile strength was measured on cotton cloth.
• Flame retardancy was assessed using the spirit lamp flame test, vertical flammability test (VFT), and limiting oxygen index (LOI) test.

Main Results:

• The P@OPW/AG adhesive achieved a tensile strength of 11.25 MPa on cotton cloth.
• The P@OPW/AG-coated cotton fabric exhibited a high LOI of 42% and a short char length of 4 cm in VFT.
• The coated fabric withstood over 845 seconds of continuous flame illumination.

Conclusions:

• A sustainable, high-performance, flame-retardant adhesive was successfully synthesized from OPW and AG.
• The bio-based adhesive demonstrates excellent mechanical properties and superior fire safety.
• This research provides a viable eco-friendly alternative for adhesive applications, promoting circular economy principles.