Effect of clay minerals on the flame retardancy of polylactic acid/ammonium polyphosphate system

Abstract The overview of the literature reveals lack comprehensive study on effect clay minerals in flame-retarded polylactic acid (PLA) composites. This research focuses sepiolite (SEP) and montmorillonite (MMT) their impact ammonium polyphosphate (APP)-based intumescent flame-retardant (IFR) system PLA. effects mineral types, surface modification (O-SEP O-MMT, respectively) concentration PLA/APP composites properties were comprehensively evaluated through thermal flammability tests. Overall, sepiolite-containing samples showed greatest decrease pHRR THR values at 3 m/m% loading level. sepiolites stronger interfacial interactions with PLA matrix than montmorillonites, organomodification proved to improve compatibility both types according dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results. Yet, had a contradictory properties. In case sepiolites, it be beneficial as O-SEP added composite achieved 60% value reduced 60%. For improved by seemed hinder its effectiveness, critical point mechanism is rapid migration accumulation towards polymer.