Flame Retardant from Eugenol as Green Modifier for Epoxy Resins

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Fire Safety Engineering

Background:

• Epoxy resins are widely used but often require flame retardant additives for safety applications.
• Developing effective and sustainable flame retardants is crucial for reducing fire hazards in polymer materials.
• Biobased alternatives offer a promising route to environmentally friendly flame retardancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a biobased flame retardant, trieugenylphosphate (TEP), from eugenol.
• To evaluate the flame retardancy and thermal stability of epoxy resins modified with TEP.
• To assess the impact of TEP on the thermal and thermomechanical properties of the epoxy matrix.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of trieugenylphosphate (TEP) from eugenol.
• Incorporation of TEP into epoxy matrix at 10 and 30 wt.%.
• Flammability testing (UL-94, Pyrolysis-Combustion Flow Calorimetry - PCFC).
• Thermal analysis (Thermogravimetric Analysis - TGA, Differential Scanning Calorimetry - DSC).
• Thermomechanical analysis (Dynamical Mechanical Thermal Analysis - DMTA).

Main Results:

• The TEP-modified epoxy resin exhibited self-extinguishing properties in the UL-94 test.
• PCFC analysis showed significant reductions in peak Heat Release Rate (pHRR), Total Heat Release (THR), and Heat Release Capacity (HRC) with TEP addition.
• TGA indicated acceptable thermal stability, while DSC and DMTA confirmed maintained or acceptable thermomechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• Trieugenylphosphate (TEP) is an effective biobased flame retardant for epoxy resins.
• TEP incorporation significantly enhances the fire safety of epoxy materials without compromising key thermal and mechanical performance.
• This study presents a sustainable approach to improving the flame retardancy of epoxy composites.