Emulsion Templating Research Articles

Tuning interfacial viscoelasticity of catechol-functionalized alginate by pH-responsive covalent network for stabilizing high internal phase pickering emulsions

Polysaccharide-based soft particles have wide applications in preparing high phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) because of their adjustable interfacial properties, which can advance the stability of HIPPEs by strengthening their interfacial viscoelasticity. Nevertheless, there is limited research on the interfacial viscoelasticity of soft particles regarding the stability of HIPPEs. We synthesized Alg-CA soft particles by the Ugi reaction, featuring catechol functionality and amphiphilic alginate. These particles can self-assemble under pH stimulation, resulting in a network structure that impacts the interfacial viscoelasticity of HIPPEs. We investigated the relationship between self-assembled microstructure and interfacial viscoelasticity using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and rheometry. The study indicates that the Alg-CA solution produced a compact network structure at a pH level of 3, leading to the formation of highly stable HIPPEs (with a viscosity of approximately 1000 Pa·s). Additionally, by utilizing emulsion templates, 3D network aerogels with pH-sensitive, consistent microstructures may be developed, which presents a promising approach for designing and producing aerogels with distinct microporous architectures.

Nanoarchitectonics of lignin-sepiolite bionanocomposite foams for application in environmental remediation

Innovative bionanocomposite foams based on precipitated Kraft lignin (Lig) and Kraft black liquor (BL) loaded with sepiolite (Sep) were prepared. BL/Sep bionanocomposites were synthesized by emulsion templating and Lig/Sep bionanocomposites were prepared by freeze-drying, resulting in stable and rigid foams. BL/Sep bionanocomposites displayed a closed cell structure, a specific area between 19 and 35 m2/g and macropores of varying sizes. The porosity in this technique is achieved by the mechanical agitation of the emulsion. On the other hand, freeze-dried Lig/Sep bionanocomposites showed open cell morphology with surface areas ranging from 1 to 4 m2/g and uniform macropores due to the ice-templating process. The presence of sepiolite in both types of bionanocomposite foams improved their stiffness, with Young's moduli ranging from 0.21 to 9.6 MPa. The capacity of the foams to adsorb metals, drugs and dyes was evaluated and it was found that the synthesized bionanocomposite foams exhibiting similar adsorption capacities as that reported for lignin. Sepiolite significantly improved the adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), acetaminophen (ACT), and methylene blue (MB) in BL/Sep bionanocomposites. Meanwhile, the Lig/Sep bionanocomposites demonstrated superior adsorption capacities for the Cr(VI) anion and aromatic ring compounds, including ACT and MB. In this respect, these lignin-sepiolite foams can be considered as promising materials for the removal of pollutants in aqueous solution.

Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Porous Nanocellulose/Polymer Composites: Influence of the Polymer Chemical Structure and Porosity.

The excellent emulsifying capacity of nanocellulose allows for the preparation of porous nanocellulose/polymer composites through the emulsion templating process. However, the effects of the polymer chemical structure and porosity on the material properties have not been extensively explored. Here, we discuss the effects of these two factors on the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. Two types of porous nanocellulose/polymer composites were fabricated with styrene-divinylbenzene (poly(St-co-DVB)) or styrene-poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (poly(St-co-EGDMA)) copolymers as the polymer phases. The porosity of the composite was changed up to ∼50% v/v by varying the aqueous phase volume fraction in the original nanocellulose-stabilized w/o emulsions. As the porosity increased, the thermal conductivity of the composite decreased. The mechanical properties were strongly influenced by the polymer type; the nanocellulose/poly(St-co-DVB) composite showed stiff but brittle behavior, whereas the nanocellulose/poly(St-co-EGDMA) composite showed higher strength and toughness. In both types of composites, the nanocelluloses served as reinforcing agents, contributing to the improvement of the mechanical properties.

Water-in-oil emulsion templated polyurethanes with uniform porosity

Porous PU foams have been receiving great attention because of their low density, lightweight, and high surface area. However, preparing PU foams with controlled porosity, pore size, and pore morphology is often difficult with commonly used methods like gas blowing. Here, highly controllable porous PU with small, uniform pore morphology and tunable material properties have been synthesized using water-in-oil polymerized high internal phase emulsion (PolyHIPE) templating and photoinitiated thiol-ene reactions between vinyl-functionalized polyurethane prepolymers and thiol-functionalized crosslinkers. The PolyHIPEs exhibited highly interconnected open-cell structures with pore sizes ranging from 5 to 10 μm. The storage moduli and elastic moduli of PU polyHIPEs derived from flexible HDI-PUs were low compared to stiff IPDI-PU based polyHIPEs. Furthermore, the storage moduli of relatively soft HDI-PU polyHIPEs were affected by the stoichiometric ratio of thiol crosslinker and vinyl-PU whereas no considerable effect on the stiffer IPDI-PU based polyHIPEs. In summary, this work presents an approach to synthesize porous polyurethane polyHIPEs with potential applications in aerospace, automotive, and biomedical industries.

κ‐Carrageenan/poly(sodium styrenesulfonate‐co‐acrylic acid) macroporous anionic monoliths: Dye adsorption and oil–water separation properties

Abstractκ‐Carrageenan (κC) is a widely used food hydrogel, but its use as an environmental adsorption separation material still needs to be further developed. Herein, a novel macroporous anionic monolith was synthesized by the oil‐in‐water high internal phase emulsion template method. The monolith was obtained by the continuous phase polymerization of sodium styrenesulfonate (NaSS) and acrylic acid (AA), in which κC was introduced to form a semi‐interpenetrating network structure to improve its overall performance. The results showed that the mechanical strength of the monolith increased with κC content. Because of the use of two strong hydrophilic monomers, NaSS and AA, the porous monolith proved to be superoleophobic underwater. In addition, the porous materials had a strong cationic dye adsorption capacity (2455 mg/g for malachite green, 1180 mg/g for methylene blue) and a fast removal rate, good reusability, and oil–water separation. This work highlights their potential application value in the purification of complex water environments.

Multi-Stimuli-Responsive, Topology-Regulated, and Lignin-Based Nano/Microcapsules from Pickering Emulsion Templates for Bidirectional Delivery of Pesticides.

The increasing demand for improving pesticide utilization efficiency has prompted the development of sustainable, targeted, and stimuli-responsive delivery systems. Herein, a multi-stimuli-responsive nano/microcapsule bidirectional delivery system loaded with pyraclostrobin (Pyr) is prepared through interfacial cross-linking from a lignin-based Pickering emulsion template. During this process, methacrylated alkali lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) are utilized as stabilizers for the tunable oil-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion. Subsequently, a thiol-ene radical reaction occurs with the acid-labile cross-linkers at the oil-water interface, leading to the formation of lignin nano/microcapsules (LNCs) with various topological shapes. Through the investigation of the polymerization process and the structure of LNC, it was found that the amphiphilicity-driven diffusion and distribution of cyclohexanone impact the topology of LNC. The obtained Pyr@LNC exhibits high encapsulation efficiency, tunable size, and excellent UV shielding to Pyr. Additionally, the flexible topology of the Pyr@LNC shell enhances the retention and adhesion of the foliar surface. Furthermore, Pyr@LNC exhibits pH/laccase-responsive targeting against Botrytis disease, enabling the intelligent release of Pyr. The in vivo fungicidal activity shows that efficacy of Pyr@LNC is 53% ± 2% at 14 days postspraying, whereas the effectiveness of Pyr suspension concentrate is only 29% ± 4%, and the acute toxicity of Pyr@LNC to zebrafish is reduced by more than 9-fold compared with that of Pyr technical. Moreover, confocal laser scanning microscopy shows that the LNCs can be bidirectionally translocated in plants. Therefore, the topology-regulated bidirectional delivery system LNC has great practical potential for sustainable agriculture.

Multiphase Under-Liquid Biofabrication With Living Soft Matter: A Route to Customize Functional Architectures With Microbial Nanocellulose.

The growth of aerobic microbes at air-water interfaces typically leads to biofilm formation. Herein, a fermentative alternative that relies on oil-water interfaces to support bacterial activity and aerotaxis is introduced. The process uses under-liquid biofabrication by structuring bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to achieve tailorable architectures. Cellulose productivity in static conditions is first evaluated using sets of oil homologues, classified in order of polarity. The oils are shown for their ability to sustain bacterial growth and BNC production according to air transfer and solubilization, both of which impact the physiochemical properties of the produced biofilms. The latter are investigated in terms of their morphological (fibril size and network density), structural (crystallinity) and physical-mechanical (surface area and strength) features. The introduced under-liquid biofabrication is demonstrated for the generation of BNC-based macroscale architectures and compartmentalized soft matter. This can be accomplished following three different routes, namely, 3D under-liquid networking (multi-layer hydrogels/composites), emulsion templating (capsules, emulgels, porous materials), and anisotropic layering (Janus membranes). Overall, the proposed platform combines living matter and multi-phase systems as a robust option for material development with relevance in biomedicine, soft robotics, and bioremediation, among others.

Highly Macroporous Polyimide with Chemical Versatility Prepared from Poly(amic acid) Salt-Stabilized High Internal Phase Emulsion Template.

Macroporous polymers have gained significant attention due to their unique mass transport and size-selective properties. In this study, we focused on Polyimide (PI), a high-performance polymer, as an ideal candidate for macroporous structures. Despite various attempts to create macroporous PI (Macro PI) using emulsion templates, challenges remained, including limited chemical diversity and poor control over pore size and porosity. To address these issues, we systematically investigated the role of poly(amic acid) salt (PAAS) polymers as macrosurfactants and matrices. By designing 12 different PAAS polymers with diverse chemical structures, we achieved stable high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with >80 vol % internal volume. The resulting Macro PIs exhibited exceptional porosity (>99 vol %) after thermal imidization. We explored the structure-property relationships of these Macro PIs, emphasizing the importance of controlling pore size distribution. Furthermore, our study demonstrated the utility of these Macro PIs as separators in Li-metal batteries, providing stable charging-discharging cycles. Our findings not only enhance the understanding of emulsion-based macroporous polymers but also pave the way for their applications in advanced energy storage systems and beyond.

In-depth investigation of how carbon nanofiller dispersion affects microcellular foaming behavior in poly(butylene succinate) nanocomposites

This study explores the impact of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dispersion on the microcellular foaming characteristics of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) matrices. Two distinct dispersion methods, primary (PD) and secondary (SD), were employed to fabricate PBS/CNT nanocomposites, resulting in different filler dispersion states. The PD technique involves the conventional method of direct melt blending PBS with CNTs, while the SD technique adopts a more advanced strategy by integrating the Pickering emulsion template with melt blending, achieving finer CNTs distribution within the PBS matrix. The results reveal that the SD technique leads to significantly more uniform distribution of CNTs, which in turn enhances the melt strength and crystallization of the polymer matrix, thereby broadening the window for microcellular foaming. Notably, foams developed through the SD method exhibited a decrease in cell size to 10.4 μm and an increase in cell density to 1.8×1010 cells·cm‐3. Moreover, this uniform distribution of CNTs contributed to superior cell stability and an increase in compressive strength to 14.0 MPa. These findings highlight the pivotal role of nanofiller dispersion in determining foam properties and establish foundational knowledge for designing PBS foams with consistent and uniform cell structures. Such advancements are crucial for enhancing the applicability and performance of PBS-based materials across a spectrum of industries.

Strategic Structural Control of Polyserotonin Nanoparticles and Their Application as pH-Responsive Nanomotors.

Serotonin-based nanomaterials have been positioned as promising contenders for constructing multifunctional biomedical nanoplatforms due to notable biocompatibility, advantageous charge properties, and chemical adaptability. The elaborately designed structure and morphology are significant for their applications as functional carriers. In this study, we fabricated anisotropic bowl-like mesoporous polyserotonin (PST) nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 170 nm through nano-emulsion polymerization, employing P123/F127 as a dual-soft template and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (TMB) as both pore expander and emulsion template. Their formation can be attributed to the synchronized assembly of P123/F127/TMB, along with the concurrent manifestation of anisotropic nucleation and growth on the TMB emulsion droplet surface. Meanwhile, the morphology of PST nanoparticles can be regulated from sphere- to bowl-like, with a particle size distribution ranging from 432 nm to 100 nm, experiencing a transformation from a dendritic, cylindrical open mesoporous structure to an approximately non-porous structure by altering the reaction parameters. The well-defined mesopores, intrinsic asymmetry, and pH-dependent charge reversal characteristics enable the as-prepared mesoporous bowl-like PST nanoparticles' potential for constructing responsive biomedical nanomotors through incorporating some catalytic functional materials, 3.5 nm CeO2 nanoenzymes, as a demonstration. The constructed nanomotors demonstrate remarkable autonomous movement capabilities under physiological H2O2 concentrations, even at an extremely low concentration of 0.05 mM, showcasing the 51.58 body length/s velocity. Furthermore, they can also respond to physiological pH values ranging from 4.4 to 7.4, exhibiting reduced mobility with increasing pH. This charge reversal-based responsive nanomotor design utilizing PST nanoparticles holds great promise for advancing the application of nanomotors within complex biological systems.

Emulsion template fabricated heterogeneous bilayer gelatin-based scaffolds with sustained-delivery of lycium barbarum glycopeptide for periodontitis treatment

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease raising the risks of tooth-supporting structures destruction and even tooth loss. The way to reconstruct periodontal bone tissues in inflammatory microenvironment has been long in demand for periodontitis treatment. In this study, the lycium barbarum glycopeptide (LbGP) loaded gelatin-based scaffolds were fabricated for periodontitis treatment. Gelatin microspheres with suitable size were prepared by emulsification and gathered by oxidized sodium alginate to prepare heterogeneous bilayer gelatin-based scaffolds, and then they were loaded with LbGP. The prepared scaffolds possessed interconnected porous microstructures, good degradation properties, sufficient mechanical properties, sustained release behavior and well biocompatibility. In vitro experiments suggested that the LbGP loaded gelatin-based scaffolds could inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α), promote the expression of anti-inflammatory factor (IL-10), and the expression of osteogenic markers (BMP2, Runx2, ALP, and OCN) in PDLSCs under the LPS-stimulated inflammatory microenvironment. Moreover, in rat periodontitis models, the LbGP gelatin-based scaffolds would reduce the alveolar bone resorption of rats, increase the collagen fiber content of periodontal membrane, alleviate local inflammation and improve the expression of osteogenesis-related factors. Therefore, the LbGP loaded gelatin-based scaffolds in this study will provide a potential therapeutic strategy for periodontitis treatment.

Processable Pickering emulsion for composite cryogel with cellulose nanofibrils and nanochitin

Cryogels that are constructed with cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are important as green materials for a wide range of applications. However, their utilization is limited by inherent hydrophilicity and insufficient mechanical properties. Herein, a processable CNF/nanochitin (NCh)-stabilized Pickering emulsion that contains polylactide (PLA) in the oil phase is developed to directly produce ternary composite cryogels via freeze-drying. The complexation of CNF with NCh promotes CNF adsorption at the surface of PLA droplets, resulting in formation of uniform Pickering PLA droplets. The CNF/NCh complex-stabilized PLA droplets are easy to be translated to the internal structure of the cryogels, exhibiting lightweight nature and possessing highly porous structure. The interconnected network and lamellar structure formed by the CNF/NCh complexes, associating with inclusion of PLA particles, improve the cryogel structure integrity upon post-processing and endow hydrophilic cryogel with water resistance. This study offers a straightforward and eco-friendly Pickering emulsion template on fabrication of the CNF-based composite cryogel with controllable microstructure and mechanical performance, broadening construction of nanocellulose-based composites.

High internal phase emulsion template stabilized by a piperazinyl based emulsifier and its application in preparing flexible porous polymer

The limited effectiveness of emulsifiers with suboptimal emulsification capabilities and low reactivity constrains their use in creating porous polymers through the high internal phase emulsion templating method. In this research, we synthesized a piperazinyl-based emulsifier (EA/AEP) featuring acylamino, secondary, and tertiary amines as its hydrophilic components, through a straightforward amidation process. This emulsifier was subsequently employed to stabilize HIPEs and to fabricated porous polymers. In comparison to Span 80, the use of EA/AEP enabled the formation of HIPEs with superior viscosity and stability at the internal phase volume fractions with between 75% and 95% by incorporating 25% EA/AEP. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the polymers’ well-defined structures and an interconnected network of pore throats. The improved mechanical properties and oil absorbency of the polymers confirmed their structural robustness. Our approach to developing EA/AEP offers valuable insights for designing innovative emulsifiers, while the inclusion of reactive groups in its structure opens up avenues for further chemical modifications.

Shortening replacement by hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based oleogels obtained by different indirect approaches. Texture and sensory properties of baked puff pastry

Shortening in puff pastry products contains high levels of saturated and even trans-fatty acids that may be hazardous to human health. One efficient way to reduce such unhealthy fat in food is to employ gelators to structure liquid oils for the production of oleogels, thereby replacing shortening. In this paper, two types of HPMC (Hydroxypropyl Methyl Cellulose) oleogels (emulsion template and foam template) were used to replace shortening in puff pastry. Full-HD images, TPA (Texture Profile Analysis) and penetration tests, as well as TDS (Time-Dominant Sensation) sensory analysis, were used to assess the products' cross-sectional morphology, texture, and sensory attributes. The appearance of baked pastry made with 50/50 (shortening/oleogel) was similar to the control (100% shortening). In contrast, the crumb texture of baked pastry prepared with 100% oleogel was more compact and less airy than control. All samples showed similar firmness. TPA test showed that puff pastry made with 100% foam-based oleogel did not substantially differ to the control group, while samples prepared with emulsion-based oleogels were significantly harder and chewier than the control. Regarding sensory analysis, all puff pastries were mainly perceived as "crunchy" during chewing. The increase in oleogel content resulted in denser pastry, but the 50/50 foam template samples were "easier to chew". Attribute "compact" also became one of the main perceptions when the oleogel content increased to 100%, which would be related to the dense structure observed in the crumb morphology. This study confirms the feasibility of HPMC oleogels as healthy fat source in puff pastry.

Variable capacity polymer based energy harvesters with integrated macroporous elastomer springs

We introduce a manufacturing concept of variable capacity energy harvesters consisting of macroporous springs integrated within a conducting silicone rubber and dielectric. Printing and polymerising emulsion templates resulted in macroporous spring elements, which were coated with conducting silicone rubber to maintain the active contact surface. By increasing size and number of these springs, the capacitance change of the energy harvesters during compression and recovery increased from 0.4 nF/cm2 to 0.8 nF/cm2. During cyclic loading with 30 N at 2 Hz, the energy harvesters with macroporous springs delivered a power density of 0.58 µW/cm2 at a bias voltage of 50 V, which was 25 times higher than the control without springs. The energy harvesters provided a constant power output over three hours of cyclic loading (21,600 cycles), indicating their structural stability and the durability of the macroporous springs.

Development of porous materials via protein/polysaccharides/polyphenols nanoparticles stabilized Pickering high internal phase emulsions for adsorption of Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions

The porous materials (PM) were prepared by the Pickering high internal phase emulsion (PHIPE) template. Firstly, the nanoparticles named as ZHMNPs or MZHMNPs were fabricated based on zein, Hohenbuehelia serotina polysaccharides and Malus baccata (Linn.) Borkh polyphenols without or with Maillard reaction, the average particle sizes and zeta potentials of which were distributed in a range of 718.1–979.4 nm and −21.6–25.2 mV. ZHMNPs possessed the relatively uniform spherical morphology, while MZHMNPs were irregular in shape. With ZHMNPs or MZHMNPs serving as the stabilizers, the PHIPEs were prepared, and exhibited the good viscoelasticity and excellent storage and freeze–thaw stabilities. Based on above PHIPEs template, the constructed PM possessed the large specific surface area and uniform pore structure. Through the investigations of adsorption performances, PM showed the outstanding adsorption capacities on Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions regardless of dissolving in deionized water or simulated gastrointestinal digestive fluid. Furthermore, the results also showed that the pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage had certain impacts on the adsorption performances of PM on Pb2+ and Cu2+ ions.

Incorporating Nanoparticles in Porous Foam Templating for Enhanced Sensitivity of Capacitive Pressure Sensors

AbstractCapacitive pressure sensors based on porous foams have been demonstrated for various biomedical applications (0–10 kPa). Many different methods for fabricating porous foams have been reported. In this work, for the first time, the incorporation of silica nanoparticles are reported into the templating process of porous foams fabricated through a combination of particle and emulsion templating, in order to enhance the formation of smaller microstructures in polydimethylsiloxane foams. The foams are coated with graphene, and pressure sensors developed using these foams showed increased sensitivity, up to 4.08 kPa−1. The incorporation of nanoparticles also improves the linearity of the sensitivity, giving a linear sensitivity for the pressure sensors over a pressure range of 0–6 kPa. Further, these pressure sensors have a low limit of detection of ≈13 Pa. These results indicate that incorporation of suitable nanoparticles in the templating of foams is a promising strategy for developing foam‐based pressure sensors with high and linear sensitivity.

Ultralight, Robust, Thermal Insulating Silica Nanolace Aerogels Derived from Pickering Emulsion Templates.

Synthesis of silica aerogel insulators with ultralight weight and strong mechanical properties using a simplified technique remains challenging for functional soft materials. This study introduces a promising method for the fabrication of mechanically reinforced ultralight silica aerogels by employing attractive silica nanolace (ASNLs)-armored Pickering emulsion templates. For this, silica nanolaces (SiNLs) are fabricated by surrounding a cellulose nanofiber with necklace-shaped silica nanospheres. In order to achieve amphiphilicity, which is crucial for the stabilization of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions, hydrophobic alkyl chains and hydrophilic amine groups are grafted onto the surface of SiNLs by silica coupling reactions. Freeze-drying of ASNLs-armored Pickering emulsions has established a new type of aerogel system. The ASNLs-supported mesoporous aerogel shows 3-fold greater compressive strength, 4-fold reduced heat transfer, and a swift heat dissipation profile compared to that of the bare ASNL aerogel. Additionally, the ASNL aerogel achieves an ultralow density of 8 mg cm-3, attributed to the pore architecture generated from closely jammed emulsion drops. These results show the potential of the ASNL aerogel system, which is ultralight, mechanically stable, and thermally insulating and could be used in building services, energy-saving technologies, and the aerospace industry.

Nanoengineered Supramolecular Adhesive Sponge for Rapid Hemostasis and Abdominal Wall Wound Healing.

Multifunctional dressing biomaterials that can promote tissue adhesion, hemostasis, and soft-tissue wound healing are of great clinical significance. Here, we report a nanocomposite supramolecular sponge constructed by an air-in-water emulsion template composed of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), Laponite nanoclay, and branched supramolecular polymer (PAMU). The sponge has an interconnected macroporous structure and exhibits tunable mechanical properties with varying Laponite concentration. The nanoengineered sponge is endowed with tissue adhesion by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions contributed by the supramolecular polymer and the Laponite nanoclay. The biocompatible sponge facilitates cell proliferation and blood coagulation in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In addition, the results of the rat external abdominal wall defect model show that the sponge can promote angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and granulation tissue formation to accelerate wound repair. These findings suggest that the unique air-in-water templated sponge is a promising candidate for applications in hemostasis and wound healing.

Preparation of flame retardant and thermal insulation polystyrene foams via high internal phase emulsion template

AbstractExpanded polystyrene foam (EPSF), valued for its excellent insulation properties, faces a significant flammability challenge due to its cellular structure. Traditional flame retardant methods such as physical blending and layer‐by‐layer assembly have poor applicability to EPSF. Therefore, it is necessary to find other more effective methods for synthesizing flame‐retardant EPSF. The high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) template is one of the simplest and most commonly used methods for synthesizing porous materials, which have features such as adjustable pore structures and high porosity. In this work, ammonium polyphosphate (APP)/starch was added to the dispersed phase of the HIPE to prepare the flame‐retardant EPSF by one‐pot method. The morphology, thermal stability and flame retardancy of the foams were investigated. When the addition of APP/starch (the weight ratio is 1:1) reached 30 wt.%, the peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), and total smoke release (TSR) of the composite foam decreased by 74.7%, 65.9%, and 24.7%, respectively, compared to the pure PS foam. Meanwhile, its limiting oxygen index (LOI) value reached 25.8%, and the UL‐94 rating reached V‐1 level, indicating significant improvement in flame retardancy. This study provides an effective strategy for synthesizing flame‐retardant porous materials.