Developing
bio-based flame retardants according to a green and
simple strategy has drawn extensive attention recently. Hence, a biomass-derived,
flame-retardant, latent curing agent (IMPA) was synthesized via the
neutralization between imidazole and phytic acid in water at room
temperature and was applied for single-component epoxy resin (EP).
The results indicate that the shelf life of the resultant EP (EP/IMPA)
increases from <1 day of the control single-component EP to 10
days at room temperature. Meanwhile, EP/IMPA features a fast curing
rate at modest temperature (80–150 °C), and its gel time
at 100 °C is only 14 min. Notably, EP/IMPA achieves superior
flame retardancy with a limiting oxygen index of 34.7% and UL-94 V-0
rating. The peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR),
and total smoke production (TSP) of EP/IMPA are reduced by 43.0%,
31.9%, and 31.5% compared with the control sample. The enhanced fire
safety is ascribed to the flame-retardant function of IMPA in both
gaseous and condensed phases. Hence, this work provides a green and
feasible method to create bio-based, flame-retardant, latent curing
agents for one-component epoxy systems.
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