Preparation of a polyaspartic acid derivative/phytic acid/sodium lignosulfonate composite aerogel with excellent...

Three types of full-biomass composite aerogels were prepared using polyaspartic acid (PASP) and its derivatives, sodium lignosulfonate, and phytic acid as raw materials. The structures, surface morphology, mechanical properties, flame retardancy, and combustion performance of the composite aerogels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, compression tests, and cone calorimetry. The results show that all three composite aerogels exhibit uniform porous structures with a porosity exceeding 73%. In the combustion performance tests, the peak heat release rates (PHRRs) of all three aerogels were below 10 kW m^-2, and the total heat release rate (THR) was less than 1 MJ m^-2. Compared to two types of PASP derivative composite aerogels, the PASP composite aerogels showed a 39% and 46% reduction in PHRR, and a 40% and 48% decrease in the THR, respectively. The extremely low values of PHRR and THR endow these three aerogels with excellent flame retardancy and very low combustion properties, making them promising candidates for applications in construction and insulation.