Fire-Resistant, Strong, and Green Polymer Nanocomposites Based on Poly(lactic acid) and Core–Shell Nanofibrous Flame Retardants

Abstract

Despite extraordinary mechanical properties and excellent biodegradability, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) still suffers from a highly inherent flammability, restricting its wide applications in the electric and automobile fields. Although a wide range of flame retardants have been developed to reduce the flammability, so far, they normally compromise the mechanical strength of PLA. Herein, we have demonstrated the fabrication of a novel core–shell nanofibrous flame-retardant system, PN-FR@CNF, through in situ chemically grafting the phosphorus–nitrogen-based polymer onto the cellulose nanofiber (CNF) surface. The results show that adding 10 wt % PN-FR@CNF enables PLA to achieve a V-0 flame resistance rating during vertical burning tests and to exhibit a dramatically reduced peak heat release rate in cone calorimetry measurements, indicating a significantly reduced flammability. In addition, the tensile strength of PLA also increases by around 24% (about 72 MPa). This work offers an innovative methodology for the design of the unique integration of extraordinary flame retardancy and mechanical reinforcement into one hierarchical nanostructured additive system for creating advanced green polymeric materials.