Fabrication of highly flame retardancy and impact strength polylactide foams with phosphorus-containing and agricultural waste-derived multifuctional additives.

Research on green polymeric foams is crucial for sustainable development. A polylactide (PLA) foam with a bio-based multifunctional flame-retardant additive derived from agricultural waste was developed and evaluated. Various PLA-based foams were prepared using melt extrusion. A PLA foam with 10 phr of trioctyl phosphate (TOP) showed enhanced crystallization ability, desirable impact strength, and excellent flame retardancy. However, TOP presents concerns for health and the environment. Therefore, bio-based flame retardants (BFRs) derived from agricultural waste were used to partially replace TOP and support the environment friendly and sustainable practices of the bio-circular-green (BCG) economic model. The study used a combination of 2.5 phr of pumpkin shell powder (PK) and 7.5 phr of TOP to produce a PLA foam that achieved a UL-94 V-0 rating, indicating excellent flame retardancy. The impact strength of this foam was about 84 % greater than that of neat PLA foam. The successful incorporation of agricultural waste-derived additives in PLA foam could not only contribute to sustainability but also add value to agricultural waste by repurposing it for a useful application.