# Phytic Acid and Its Derivatives as Valuable Flame Retardants for Polymer Systems: Current State of the Art and Perspectives

## TL;DR

This paper explores phytic acid and its derivatives as sustainable, effective flame retardants for polymers, highlighting recent advances and future potential.

## Contribution

The paper introduces phytic acid as a novel bio-sourced flame retardant with high phosphorus content and multiple applications.

## Key findings

- Phytic acid is an efficient dehydrating and char-forming agent under heat exposure.
- Combining phytic acid with carbon or nitrogen sources enhances flame-retardant properties.
- Phytic acid derivatives show promise in textiles, polymers, and foams as sustainable alternatives.

## Abstract

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate) and its salts, including iron, aluminum, sodium, and lanthanum phytate, are perhaps the most recent discovery in the field of bio-sourced flame retardants. Phytic acid can be extracted from sustainable resources, such as beans, cereals, and oilseeds. Its high phosphorus content (28 wt.% based on molecular weight) organized into six phosphate groups justifies the growing interest this biomolecule has attracted over the last decade in various sectors (as a corrosion inhibitor, antioxidant, and anticancer additive, among others). In addition, when exposed to a flame or an irradiative heat flux, phytic acid is a highly efficient dehydrating and char-forming agent. It also contributes to excellent flame-retardant properties when combined with other carbon sources, such as chitosan, or nitrogen-containing additives, including melamine, urea, and polyethyleneimine. This paper reviews the most recent advances in using phytic acid and its derivatives to design effective flame-retardant systems for textiles, bulk polymers, and foams. It also provides perspectives on possible future developments and implementations.