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Sustainable Flame-Retardant PLA Composites Incorporating Raw Wood-Derived Biochar and Magnesium Hydroxide
Yuxin Liu1, Jinfeng Zhang1, António Benjamim Mapossa1
1Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 15, 2026
Summary
This study developed sustainable flame-retardant polylactic acid (PLA) composites using wood biochar and magnesium hydroxide (MH). The new materials offer enhanced fire resistance and dimensional stability for eco-friendly plastic applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
Background:
- Growing demand for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics.
- Need for effective, halogen-free flame retardants in bio-based polymers.
- Limitations of current bio-based plastics in flame retardancy and durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop sustainable flame-retardant polylactic acid (PLA) composites.
- To utilize wood-derived biochar and magnesium hydroxide (MH) as eco-friendly additives.
- To evaluate the structural, thermal, flame-retardant, mechanical, and stability properties of the composites.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of PLA composites via melt compounding and compression molding.
- Incorporation of wood-derived biochar and magnesium hydroxide (MH) at varying ratios.
- Assessment of flame retardancy using Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) and UL-94 tests.
- Evaluation of dimensional stability through accelerated aging tests.
Main Results:
- Combined biochar/MH system significantly enhanced flame retardancy compared to biochar or MH alone.
- PLA/Biochar20/MH20 composite achieved the highest LOI of 26.2%, exceeding the practical threshold.
- Improved flame retardancy attributed to char formation, heat absorption, gas dilution, and MgO barrier effects.
- Composites exhibited good dimensional stability with thickness changes below 1% after aging.
Conclusions:
- Combining biodegradable PLA with degradable biochar and halogen-free MH is a viable sustainable strategy.
- The developed composites show promise for flame-retardant applications requiring improved residue formation and stability.
- This approach reduces reliance on petroleum-derived and halogenated flame-retardant materials.
