Investigation on flame retardancy and thermal degradation of flame retardant poly(butylene succinate)/bamboo fiber biocomposites

Poly(butylene succinate)/bamboo fiber (BBF) biocomposites were prepared by melt blending method. Microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (MCAPP) was used as flame retardants to prepare flame retardant BBF biocomposites. The thermal degradation and flame retardant properties of BBF biocomposites were investigated. The volatilized products of the thermal degradation of flame retardant BBF biocomposite are saturated hydrocarbons, unsaturated alkane, CO2, carboxylic acid, acid anhydride, aromatic compounds, NH3, and CH3OH. The peak of heat release rate (pHRR) and total heat release (THR) of flame retardant BF biocomposites decrease substantially compared with that without MCAPP. The pHRR value of flame retardant BBF biocomposites decreases from 443.2 to 236.2 kW m−2 and the THR value decreases from 62.0 to 36.1 kW m−2. Furthermore, MCAPP shows the best flame retardant property at the same loading, compared with other flame retardants such as Mg(OH)2, and Al(OH)3. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012