Progress of flame retarded polylactic acid

The recent progress of flame retarded polylactic acid (PLA) was reviewed in this paper. The novel environmentally friendly retardants for PLA include 9, 10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phospha-phenanthrene-10-oxide (DOPO) and its derivatives, phosphazene cyclomatrix network polymer, aromatic phosphate esters, melamine phosphate compounds, etc. As for the new types of intumescent flame retardant (IFR) for PLA, new gas source such as triazine-based hyperbranched polyamide macromolecules, or new acid source or new carbon source such as β-cyclodextrin was used. The nano additives for flame retarded PLA were focused on montmorillonit (MMT), polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POS), multi-walled nanotubes and sepoilite, which were commonly used as synergists with traditional flame retardants.