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Boron-based fire retardancy for natural polymeric materials
1Mechanical Engineering Department, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, United States.
Frontiers in Chemistry
|March 9, 2026
Summary
Boron compounds enhance fire safety in natural materials, transitioning from simple additives to integral structural components. This review explores boron
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Green Chemistry
- Polymer Science
Background:
- The global bioeconomy relies on natural polymers, but their flammability hinders widespread adoption.
- Developing effective fire retardancy solutions for bio-derived materials is crucial for sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in boron-based fire retardancy for natural materials.
- To analyze the evolution of boron chemistry applications from macro-scale to molecular-level engineering.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of boron chemistry applications in diverse natural materials.
- Analysis of boron's dual role as a catalyst and physical barrier.
- Examination of boron integration strategies (mineralization, grafting, crosslinking, sol-gel) tailored to material constraints.
Main Results:
- Boron compounds effectively reduce flammability by promoting dehydration, char formation, and creating physical barriers.
- Innovative boron applications include in situ mineralization in wood, borate ester crosslinks in composites, sol-gel architectures in textiles, and stabilization of nanocellulose aerogels.
- Strategies address challenges like water solubility and leaching, leading to enhanced durability and performance.
Conclusions:
- Boron chemistry offers a safe and sustainable pathway to high-performance, fire-retardant natural materials.
- Molecular-level engineering and tailored integration are key to unlocking boron's full potential.
- Further research is needed to overcome remaining challenges and fully realize these applications.
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