Phytic acid is widely present in seeds and other plant parts, and naturally has a high phosphorus content. In this study, phytic acid was reacted with piperazine (a nitrogen containing molecule) a molar ratios of 6:1 – 2:1 piperazine/phytic acid.The resulting substance (“PHYPI”) was tested to flame retard polypropylene (at 0 – 25% weight). The phytic acid based phosphorus FR showed to be effective in polypropylene, reducing peak heat release by 66% and peak smoke release by 33% (at 20% FR loading); and achieving UL94-V0 (3.2 mm). Analysis suggests that the flame retardant effect resulted from generation of carbon double bond and P-N-C structures which improved char formation, but also maybe release of water and carbon dioxide reducing fire gases.
“A novel bio-based flame retardant for polypropylene from phytic acid”, Y-Y. Gao et al., Polymer Degradation and Stability 161 (2019) 298e308 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2019.02.005 See also Feng et al., FR for cotton based on phytic acid and urea, pinfa Newsletter n°84