Recent Advances in the Development of Fire-Resistant Biocomposites-A Review.

Elvara Madyaratri,Petar Antov,Andrea Majlingová,Deded Nawawi,Manggar Aristri,Widya Fatriasari,Muhammad Lubis,Apri Iswanto,Lubos Kristak,Muhammad Ridho

doi:10.3390/polym14030362

Abstract

Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers represent an eco-friendly and inexpensive alternative to conventional petroleum-based materials and have been increasingly utilized in a wide variety of industrial applications due to their numerous advantages, such as their good mechanical properties, low production costs, renewability, and biodegradability. However, these engineered composite materials have inherent downsides, such as their increased flammability when subjected to heat flux or flame initiators, which can limit their range of applications. As a result, certain attempts are still being made to reduce the flammability of biocomposites. The combustion of biobased composites can potentially create life-threatening conditions in buildings, resulting in substantial human and material losses. Additives known as flame-retardants (FRs) have been commonly used to improve the fire protection of wood and biocomposite materials, textiles, and other fields for the purpose of widening their application areas. At present, this practice is very common in the construction sector due to stringent fire safety regulations on residential and public buildings. The aim of this study was to present and discuss recent advances in the development of fire-resistant biocomposites. The flammability of wood and natural fibers as material resources to produce biocomposites was researched to build a holistic picture. Furthermore, the potential of lignin as an eco-friendly and low-cost FR additive to produce high-performance biocomposites with improved technological and fire properties was also discussed in detail. The development of sustainable FR systems, based on renewable raw materials, represents a viable and promising approach to manufacturing biocomposites with improved fire resistance, lower environmental footprint, and enhanced health and safety performance.

Highlights

Increased environmental awareness and the scarcity of natural resources, as well as recent stringent environmental regulations and the unsustainable consumption of fossilderived resources, have forced many manufacturing industries to search for new ecofriendly materials from renewable feedstocks to substitute conventional materials in several end uses
peak of heat release rate (PHRR) values declined by 9%, total heat release (THR) values decreased by 25%, and average mass loss rate (AMLR) values reduced by 19%
The scarcity of non-renewable resources, and recent technological advances have enhanced the industrial development of biobased composites with engineered properties for a wide range of value-added end uses

Summary

Introduction

Increased environmental awareness and the scarcity of natural resources, as well as recent stringent environmental regulations and the unsustainable consumption of fossilderived resources, have forced many manufacturing industries to search for new ecofriendly materials from renewable feedstocks to substitute conventional materials in several end uses. When woody or non-woody fibers are combined with thermoplastic matrices, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, wood plastic composites (WPC) are produced Due to their excellent properties, such as high strength, durability, stiffness, and resistance to wear, these engineered materials have found a wide range of applications [12]. Despite the numerous advantages of natural fibers, there are some drawbacks limiting their potential as a natural feedstock for the development of biobased composites, such as their insufficient adhesion and incompatibility with the matrices, lower water and thermal resistance, and their susceptibility to insect and fungi attacks, etc They belong to the group of highly-combustible polymer materials [13]. In Advances in Composite Materials—Analysis of Natural and Man-Made Materials; Tesinova, P., Ed.; InTech: London, UK, 2011; pp. 121–162

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