# Application of Chitosan and Boehmite as Ecological Fire Retardants in PVC Compositions—Preparation and Thermal Study

## TL;DR

The paper explores using chitosan and boehmite as eco-friendly fire retardants in PVC materials, testing their thermal and fire-resistant properties.

## Contribution

A new hybrid fire retardant based on boehmite and chitosan is synthesized and tested in PVC composites for thermal and fire performance.

## Key findings

- PVC composites with boehmite derivative and chitosan showed improved thermal stability.
- Flame-retardant properties were evaluated at different additive concentrations (10%, 30%, 50%).
- Materials demonstrated mechanical resistance and homogeneity suitable for fire performance evaluation.

## Abstract

Eco-friendly flame retardants are becoming a popular alternative to traditional fire retardants, many of which contain toxic halogens. These modern additives, which are based on phosphorus, nitrogen, or silicon compounds, minimize the emission of harmful gases during combustion, making them safer for the environment and human health. This study aimed to synthesize and analyze poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) composites using a newly synthesized hybrid fire retardant, boehmite derivative (aluminium dibutyl phosphonate), as an environmentally friendly additive. The fire-retardant properties of chitosan, which is derived from the natural biopolymer chitin, have also been tested. The chemical structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed using ATR/FTIR spectroscopy and SEM-EDX analysis. Next, PVC-based dry blends were prepared with the addition of a stabilizer, plasticiser, chalk, and selected flame retardants (aluminium dibutyl phosphonate or chitosan) at concentrations of 10 wt%, 30 wt%, and 50 wt%, resulting in homogeneous materials intended for evaluating fire performance, thermal stability (DSC, TGA), and mechanical resistance.