Biomass-Based Flame Retardants: An Overview
Meenu Mariam Jacob, Muthamilselvi Ponnuchamy
Increased need for sustainable, non-toxic, and high-performance flame retardants has prompted intense research into biomass-based alternatives to replace conventional halogenated systems. Obtained from renewable resources like lignin, cellulose, chitosan, and phytic acid, biomass-based flame retardants provide several benefits such as environmental compatibility, carbon neutrality, and in many cases, inherent flame-retardant activity. These materials act through diverse mechanisms such as char formation, thermal insulation, endothermic decomposition, and radical scavenging. Improvements in chemical modification and nano structuring processes have made possible the design of these bio-derived compounds for better thermal stability, polymer matrix compatibility, and higher fire resistance. This chapter offers a detailed introduction to the underlying principles of flame retardancy, physicochemical characteristics of prominent biomass feedstocks, and the latest advances in their chemical functionalization for flame-retardant purposes. The incorporation of biomass-derived retardants into thermoplastics, thermosets, composites, and textiles is addressed in conjunction with performance metrics of evaluation and mechanistic understanding. Additionally, material processing challenges, efficiency of flame retardants, and regulatory issues are critically examined, and green flame retardant design directions of the future are envisioned. The chapter highlights the potential of biomass-derived systems to help create safer, more sustainable products across a variety of industries.
Keywords
Biomass, Flame Retardants, Sustainable Polymers, Fire Safety, Eco-Friendly
Published online 5/1/2026, 27 pages
Citation: Meenu Mariam Jacob, Muthamilselvi Ponnuchamy, Biomass-Based Flame Retardants: An Overview, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 190, pp 50-76, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904077-3
Part of the book on Flame Retardant Materials
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