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. 2021 Oct 6;22(19):10825.
doi: 10.3390/ijms221910825.

Vermiculite Filler Modified with Casein, Chitosan, and Potato Protein as a Flame Retardant for Polyurethane Foams

Karolina Miedzińska  1 , Sylwia Członka  1 , Anna Strąkowska  1 , Krzysztof Strzelec  1
Affiliations

Vermiculite Filler Modified with Casein, Chitosan, and Potato Protein as a Flame Retardant for Polyurethane Foams

Karolina Miedzińska et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

In this study, polyurethane (PU) composite foams were modified with 2 wt.% of vermiculite fillers, which were themselves modified with casein, chitosan, and potato protein. The impact of the fillers on selected properties of the obtained composites, including their rheological (foaming behavior, dynamic viscosity), thermal (temperature of thermal decomposition stages), flame-retardant (e.g., limiting oxygen index, ignition time, heat peak release), and mechanical properties (toughness, compressive strength (parallel and perpendicular), flexural strength) were investigated. Among all the modified polyurethane composites, the greatest improvement was noticed in the PU foams filled with vermiculite modified with casein and chitosan. For example, after the addition of modified vermiculite fillers, the foams' compressive strength was enhanced by ~6-18%, their flexural strength by ~2-10%, and their toughness by ~1-5%. Most importantly, the polyurethane composites filled with vermiculite filler and modified vermiculite fillers exhibited improved flame resistance characteristics (the value of total smoke release was reduced by ~34%, the value of peak heat release was reduced by ~25%).

Keywords: burning behavior; flame retardants; high-ball milling process; polyurethane foams; vermiculite.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
External morphology of (a) unmodified vermiculite filler, and vermiculite fillers modified with (b) casein, (c) chitosan, and (d) potato protein.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The results of the particle size distribution.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Results of apparent density and average cell size of the PU composites.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM images of (a) PU_0, (b) PU_V, (c) PU_VC, (d) PU_VCH, (e) PU_VPP.
Figure 4
Figure 4
SEM images of (a) PU_0, (b) PU_V, (c) PU_VC, (d) PU_VCH, (e) PU_VPP.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) Thermogravimetric (TGA) and (b) derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) results.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Effect of vermiculite fillers on parallel and perpendicular compressive strength (a) and flexural strength and toughness (b).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The results of (a) peak heat release (pHRR), (b) total smoke release (TSR), and an average yield of (c) CO and (d) CO2.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Selected properties of PU foams: contact angle and water uptake results.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Images of the contact angles measured for (a) PU_0, (b) PU_V, (c) PU-VC, (d) PU-VCH, and (e) PU_VPP.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic procedure of the synthesis of PU composites reinforced with vermiculite filler modified with casein/chitosan/potato protein.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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